Punjab’s Rajasansi international airport in Amritsar is all set to adorn a new look by mid of 2009 as up-gradation work for phase II here is in full swing.

Airport Authority of India (AAI) is expected to pump in Rs 125 crore into the expansion plans and the new terminal building is being readied for departure and arrivals. The runway length has been extended by 369 meters to a total length of 3,658 meters.

There is plan to build four aero bridges, as presently the airport sans this facility. AAI has allready placed orders for the bridges. Moreover a new spacious car park space will be created for passengers and visitors. Presently there is space for 700 cars only.

AAI is also in process to get 44 acres of land from the state government for airport’s infrastructural development.

Adding more details, Arun Talwar, airport director, AAI, Amritsar international airport said, ?The airport receives 132 Flights in week including 66 arrivals and 66 departures and 40 are domestic flights. Currently there are two duty free shops selling just liqour and Ciggrettes besides a jewellry store but under the up-gradation plan child care unit, medical store, book store, cyber caf?, tourism centre, handicrafts shop and more duty-free shops will added?.

In a move to end long queues the airport will also adopt CUTE (Common User Terminal Equipment) reservation system. This software helps streamline the reservation system at the airport and facilitate the checking-in of passengers of individual airlines from a common terminal. Every airline will have its own counter and nearly 30 counters are expected to come up within this financial year.

Apart from this around 27 acres of land has been identified under the central government’s plan for the development and modernisation only for the city-side of this non-metro airport through public-private partnership (PPP).

Government has shortlisted five bidders from the initial list of 23 bidders for the modernisation of the Amritsar airport. These include Anil Ambani led Reliance Energy Limited, Fraport AG, Tata Power, Lanco Infratech Ltd and Larsen and Toubro (L&T).

The government wants the consortium of the selected bidder and the AAI to commercially operate the airports and maintain their terminal buildings. It would also be responsible to develop and operate cargo facilities at these airports, besides undertaking the city-side development.

The airport modernisation process is part of the upgrade process of 35 non-metro airports in the country by 2010.