Kolkata Airport to handle more aircraft with modernisation

Kolkata, Nov 29 (UNI) With a view to enabling the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) Airport here to handle more aircraft during peak hours, Rs 2,000 crore will be pumped in to undertake modernisation.

Speaking at an interactive session organised by the Bengal National Chamber of Commerce and Industry (BNCCI) here yesterday, Executive Director (Projects), NSCBI Airport, S P S Bakshi said, ''The airport now handles about 22 aircraft with the present infrastructure. With the extension of the secondary runway and upgradation of the Air Traffic Control (ATC) facilities the airport will be able to handle between 32 and 36 aircraft during peak hours.'' Phase I of the Rs 2,000 crore modernisatioin plan of the NSCBI Airport also includes a new terminal building that will be merged with the existing buildings. It is expected to be completed in 20 months.

''Use of more steel structures instead of concerete will not only give much space but also be aesthetically pleasing,'' Mr Bakshi said.

Last year, there had been a 36 per cent growth of air traffic in Kolkata, he informed.

''Moreover, there are now about 700 flights that fly over Kolkata region,'' he added.

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