Airports upgrade to cost Rs 5,000 crore

Investments of over Rs 5,000 crore are envisaged for modernisation of airports in the current five-year plan.

The investment is targeted at modernisation of infrastructure and upgradation and installation of the latest world class airport surveillance equipment.

Delivering his keynote Address at 'New Airports & Modernisation of Metro Airports" - organised by India-Tech Foundation, K Mahalingam, chairman & managing director, Airport Authority of India, said modernisation is the need of the hour.

K Roy Paul, secretary, ministry of civil aviation, said opportunities are available for infrastructure construction companies in the development of new airports and modernisation of metro airports.

Senior Government officials such as Nasim Zaidi, joint secretary (airports), ministry of civil aviation; K Ramalingam, member (Planning), Airport Authority of India, Binoy Kumar - secretary (road, transport and buildings), Andhra Pradesh; A K Mago - metropolitan commissioner, MMRDA and leading technocrats from the industry such as Albert Brunner - CEO, Bangalore International Airport; S A Reddi - deputy managing director - Gammon India Ltd, Hemant Kanoria, managing director, Indian Infrastructure Equipment Ltd, and J Ganguly - vice-president (civil and transport infrastructure), Larsen & Toubro Ltd, shared their experience at the seminar.

The seminar covered a whole range of subjects such as the new Hyderabad and Bangalore international airports, the proposed Nagpur hub, construction machinery, construction engineering and design for modern airports.

According to Indra Mohan, president, India-Tech Foundation, speedy development of infrastructure sector is vital for our country as a fast developing economy.

This seminar aimed to identify roadblocks, if any, and also provide meaningful insights regarding the other challenges and opportunities that await the Indian construction sector.