The government, via the Cabinet Comnmittee on Economic Affairs, has given its nod to the modernisation and expansion of Chennai and Kolkata airports at an estimated cost of Rs 3,750.51 crore.
A sum of Rs 1,808 crore is expected to go in the modernisation process of Chennai airport and is expected to be completed within 26 months of AAI awarding the contract. The modernisation will result in an additional passenger handling capacity of 14 million passengers per annum (mppa). Also, a runway will be extended and made suitable for operations of large commercial aircrafts. Additional parking space and taxiways to facilitate parking and movement of aircraft will also be created, a statement from the ministry of civil aviation said.
The modernisation of the Kolkata airport, expected to complete with an investment of and Rs 1,942.51crore within 30 months of AAI awarding the contract of developmen , is expected to allow an additional passengers handling capacity of 20 mppa. Apart from extending the second runway, modernisation work includes upgradation of navigation facilities, additional parking space and taxiways and improved road and rail connectivity of the airport with the city.
Located in approximately 1,152 acres with two runways of 3,658m and 2,085m, the Chennai airport has witnessed a growth of 10.7% pa of international traffic and 24.4% pa of domestic traffic over the last five years. The airport is already saturated in terms of the number of passengers passing through. In 2007-08, the international and domestic traffic at the Chennai airport stood at 3.41 million and 7.25 million, respectively.
It is estimated that the Chennai airport will further witnessed a combined growth of around 17.13% pa (20% domestic and 10% international) by 2011-12, following which the growth rate is expected to go up to 11.10% pa (12% domestic and 8% international) by 2016-17.
AAI will fund 80% of the project cost?Rs.1446.4 crores?via internal resources and the rest?Rs.361.6 crore?via commercial borrowings. The authority has already spent Rs 20.35 crore towards consultancy and other preparatory work during 2007-08. The extended international terminal building is expected to saturate in 2017-18 and the combined domestic terminal building in 2012-13.
The Kolkata airport had international traffic of 1.01 million and domestic traffic of 6.45 million in 2007-08. It witnessed a 6.4% growth in international traffic and 21.4% growth in domestic traffic over the last five years. It is estimated that the Airport will witness a combined growth of around 19 % per annum by 2011-12. The growth rate thereafter, is expected to stabilise at 14.5 % by 2015-16. Based on these projections, Kolkata airport is expected to handle 24.65 mppa in 2015-16.