Speed Post News Network
New Delhi : The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will undertake new development works at Lucknow, Deoghar, Rajkot and Allahabad airports to improve and develop airport infrastructure to meet growing traffic demands.
AAI plans to construct new integrated passenger terminal building at Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport, Lucknow, at an estimated cost of Rs 1,230 crore. Passenger traffic at this airport has grown steadily during the last 5 years. The new terminal will be able to handle 4,000 passengers during peak hour and 6.35 million passengers per annum.
At Deoghar in Jharkhand, AAI will develop the airport to facilitate joint use for civil operation up to Airbus-320 and DRDO operation up to C-130 type of aircraft. The work will be carried out at an estimated cost of Rs. 401.34 crore on fixed cost basis and Rs 427.43 crore on completion cost basis. An MoU was signed between the Government of Jharkhand, DRDO and AAI in March, 2017. As per the MOU, there will be financial input to the tune of Rs 50 crore by the Government of Jharkhand, Rs. 200 crore by DRDO and balance cost by AAI, according to a PIB release.
To meet the demand of increasing air travel in Allahabad, a new civil enclave at will be developed by AAI at an estimated cost of Rs 125.76 crore. The new terminal is to be made operational before the ‘Ardh Kumbh Mela’ to be held in January 2019.
AAI will also take up the work of development of greenfield airport at Hirasar, Rajkot in Gujarat, on Build, Operate and Maintain basis. The Gujarat Government has provided the land free of cost and proposed the construction of the greenfield airport to meet the traffic potential of Saurashtra region as indicated by its high level of economic growth, according to the PIB release.