Port Blair Airport to be International, expansion on the cards

Port Blair, Jun 20 (UNI) The Veer Savarkar Airport at Port Blair is poised to become an International Airport soon and would undergo major expansions to achieve international standards.

Official sources here said a notification had already been issued by the Civil Aviation Ministry to this effect on May 25.

Earlier, the Union Cabinet, chaired by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh, had cleared the proposal in deference to the wishes of the people of the island territory.

Airport Officer D'Cruz told mediapersons here today that although no official communication had been received by his office yet, the AAI was ready for the gigantic task ahead.

''Initially, the amenities in the terminal building will have to be augmented to cater to the requirements of international flights,'' Mr D'Cruz said.

''In the event of implementing the decision in the coming days, the timings for handling the domestic and international passengers will be divided accordingly. While the forenoon hours will be utilised for domestic flights, the international passengers can be handled from 1300 hours onwards. This arrangement can be carried on till further expansion of the terminal is complete,'' Mr D'Cruz said.

''The existing stretch of runway is adequate for the bigger aircrafts. However, more parking bays are required for handling additional traffic. Consequently, four more parking bays are being constructed at Port Blair airport, besides the two at present,'' the airport officer said.

However, Mr D'Cruz pointed out that rise in the level of wind speed in the afternoon here was considered as an impediment for the flights to take off during these hours.

Besides, lack of night landing facilities would have to be looked into by the aviation experts before operation of the international flights could be started.

UNI