Specialist engineering firm UNO Technology plans to develop cabins for air traffic control towers across airports in 2024–25.
According to Unni Bhaskar, managing director, UNO Technology, the specialist engineering firm is already developing cabins for the air traffic control tower at the Noida International Airport.
“The work for tower developments is for airports owned by the Airports Authority of India as well as private developers,” he said.
“We have already signed a contract with the Airports Authority of India for one of their projects in the South. We have also had discussions with leading private developers in India. We hope to penetrate further into the Indian market this coming year,” Bhaskar said.
As per the company, on an average, the development of a complete tower at a small airport costs about Rs 25–30 crore, while the same at a large airport costs about Rs 300 crore.
“We are in the right place at the right time because India is the fastest-growing aviation market in the world, and has accepted the latest technologies coming in from various countries,” Bhaskar said.
On India’s plans to have 200 functional airports in the next couple of years, Bhaskar said, “There will be parking space constraints in the next seven years due to the influx of all new aircraft coming into India. Therefore, there is a need to build new airports”.
According to him, the company is trying to bring overseas players into India, who can then form a joint venture to manufacture special glazing glass to improve visibility inside a control cabin.
“We use a special treated glass called chemically toughened glass, which is very difficult to source because there are only two or three companies worldwide making this right. We are exploring possibilities of manufacturing this locally in India.”