Decision soon on modernisation of Chennai and Kolkata airports

New Delhi: As the modernisation process of Delhi and Mumbai airports gathers steam, the Civil Aviation Ministry is likely to take a decision in respect of restructuring of Chennai and Kolkata airports within the next two months.
While the West Bengal Government has made it clear that it will entrust the job to the public sector Airports Authority of India (AAI) for modernisation of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport in Kolkata, the Tamil Nadu Government has indicated to the Civil Aviation Ministry that it would make the land available for constructing the second runway at the existing airport in Chennai.
"Indications are that the land for the second runway at the existing airport will be made available and we would also prefer to opt for this route instead of going for a wholly new Greenfield airport in Chennai which will render the existing one useless," Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla said.
For the Kolkata airport, Mr. Chawla said, the AAI has submitted its plan and the total cost of modernisation would be around Rs. 2,000 crores. During the tenure of the 11th five-year plan beginning this year, the AAI would spend about Rs. 900 crores and another Rs. 1,100 crores after that period.
06/03/07 The Hindu

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Categories: Airports Mar 2007