Srinagar int'l airport to handle 1000 passengers at one time

Srinagar, May 28 (UNI) The Srinagar international airport would be upgraded to handle about 450 foreign and 500 domestic passengers at a particular time during peak rush.

This was decided at a high-level meeting chaired by Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad here last evening.

He inspected the construction work of a new terminal and other infrastructure being raised at the Srinagar international airport.

Mr Azad underlined the importance of developing the Srinagar airport as an international airport. This would boost tourism and enhance trade and commerce activities in the state, he added.

The Chief Minister urged the authorities to speed up execution works and complete the international airport as early as possible.

On the occasion, Mr Azad was informed by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials that the capacity of the existing terminal building at the Srinagar Airport would be enhanced for handling 450 international and 500 domestic passengers during peak hours.

The new terminal building would have all modern amenities such as aero-bridges, central heating system, conveyor belts, escalators, air conditioning system, lifts, PA system, CCTV and baggage handling belts, the Chief Minister was told.

Besides, the expansion of the terminal building, the AAI has also planned additional parking bays to accommodate wide-bodied jet aircraft and international chartered flights.

The existing apron and taxi track having a total area of 13045-sq mt was to be increased to 55820-sq mt with an additional taxi track.

After the expansion, the apron would be capable of accommodating four A321-200, one B767-400 ER and two B777-200 types of aircraft.

The total cost of the project was Rs 125 crore which included the extension of terminal building with all modern facilities.

At present 70 per cent of the building work has been completed the remaining is expected to be completed by October this year, Mr Azad was told.

UNI