AAI begins to upgrade Kolkata, Chennai airports

New Delhi, Aug 10 (UNI) The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has started work on modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports and will construct new terminals buildings, additional runways and taxiways at a cost of Rs 4,000 crore.

''We have drawn up ambitious plans to modernise these two airports,'' said its chairman K Ramalingam. ''Designs of new terminal buildings and expansion of existing ones have already been approved for both the airports.'' He said the estimated cost of modernising the two airports will be Rs 2,000 crore each and the target date is 2010. The plans also include the construction of new runways, parking spaces, taxiways and new airspace management and air traffic control systems.

The process of city-side development at these airports and connectivity is also being discussed, said Mr Ramalingam at a seminar on air route development.

Airports in 35 non-metro cities are being developed simultaneously and the AAI is making efforts to meet the specific target set up for each project. ''We're looking at an investment of over nine billion dollars over the next three years to upgrade aviation infrastructure in the country,'' he said.

Referring to congestion in airspace over major airports like those in Delhi and Mumbai, Mr Ramalingam said the development of new routes, besides enhancement of the technological capabilities of airspace management and air traffic control, is being looked into.

The seminar, organised by the AAI and Britian-based Route Development Group, debated a gamut of issues relating to expansion of air route network in and around the Indian subcontinent.

UNI