AAI to upgarde Kolkata, Chennai airports

Even as the modernisation of the Delhi and Mumbai airports is dogged by controversy, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), has decided to upgrade the infrastructural facilities at the Chennai and Kolkata airports.

AAI has invited global Expressions of Interest (EoI) for plan and design of domestic passenger terminal buildings at Chennai and Kolkata airports.

"This is an interim measure to upgrade the infrastructure facilities at Chennai and Kolkata airports. This will be purely funded by AAI," sources said.

The scope of the plan includes designing the passenger terminal building with all engineering services including structural design, development of car parks and approach roads on the city side as well as development of apron configuration and aircraft parking bays.

It also includes architectural integration of airside and city side facade with respect to adjacent existing and proposed terminal building.

The deadline for submitting the EoIs is June 28.

"AAI has taken a good decision to go for an interim upgradation of infrastructure facilities at these airports. We are hopeful about modernisation prospects of Chennai airport," said Kapil Kaul, chief executive officer, Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation, Indian subcontinent and the Middle East.

Following the shortlisting of EoIs submitted by the consortia, AAI will then invite proposals for architecture design competition for the domestic passenger terminal building at the Kolkata and Chennai airports.

Meanwhile, the ministry of Civil Aviation has also decided to modernise and upgrade 35 non-metro airports in three phases. These airports will be developed in clusters of five each.