Mysore airport upgradation work begins

Mysore, Dec 22: The much-awaited work on upgrading Mysore Mandakalli airport began on the outskirts of the city today, with the Bhoomi puja being performed for the first phase of the work, worth Rs 69.3 crore.

The Bangalore-based Vishal Infrastructure Limited bagged the contract for the first phase, expected to be completed in two years, from the Airports Authority of India, according to AAI Deputy General Manager M N N Rao, who is incharge of the project.

He said the company would conduct survey for about 15 days, before commencing the actual works. The first phase included construction of runway pavements, two runways (1740-m-long and 1350-m-long), a runway peripheral, boundary wall and allied works.

Once these works were completed, construction of terminal building, technical block-cum-control tower, fire station, electrcity sub station and car parking would be taken up. The excavation work for the construction of the site office of the project also began today.

Mr Rao said the AAI had hired M/s Consultants Engineering Services, New Delhi, for preparing the project report for the second phase. In all, about 174 acres of land have been earmarked for the upgradation of the airport, of which 154 acres had been handed over to the AAI and the rest would be handed over shortly as it was under litigation.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy and Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa would be invited for laying the function stone for the works next month.

UNI