Cochin airport to get Rs 120 crores

Nedumbassery: Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) is all set to take up multifaceted development schemes amounting to Rs 120 crore. The projects include commissioning of Centre for Perishable Cargo (CPC) , expansion of international and domestic terminals, construction of additional aprons, first phase of golf course, improvement of facilities in the emigration wing, launching of an Aviation Academy and introduction of industrial park. CIAL has also proposed better marketing of CIAL as a tourist destination and a cargo hub. International seminars and airport revenue conferences will be the additional programmes to update technology and boost the income of the airport. Addressing a press conference, Minister S Sarma, member of the Board of Directors of CIAL, said that the full fledged CPC, a Rs 13.2 crore project, would be inaugurated by Chief Minister V S Achuthanandan on February 2. The CPC, spread over a 22,000 sq ft area, will handle 25,000 tonnes of cargo in a year.
The state-of-the-art infrastructure and fully automated system of CPC will ensure the export of farm products which will benefit farmers of Kerala and neighbouring states as the products will reach international markets afresh. Farmers will get better price for the produce, Sharma said.
The expansion work of the international terminal will be completed by May. The total area of the International Departure block will be 4,80,000 sq ft with a spacious Duty Free Shop on 60,000 sq ft area. The domestic terminal will be expanded to cater to the future growth in air traffic. The first phase of the 9 hole golf course attached to a country club will be commissioned within 8 months. The membership drive will begin within three months. CIAL has also geared to meet the expense of additional officers for emigration duty. Passengers often find it extremely difficult to stand in serpentine queues for emigration clearance due to shortage of personnel in the emigration wing in the airport. The Government has allotted 50 sub inspectors for this and 30 have already joined. The ambitious Aviation Academy of CIAL will be launched next academic year. CIAL has approached the Director General of Civil Aviation for starting various courses in aircraft maintenance.
26/01/09 K J Francis Joy/ExpressBuzz

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Categories: Airports Jan 2009