Finally here's some news regarding the Coimbatore International Airport. A new departure terminal is all set to be constructed at a proposed cost of Rs 125 crores with 3 new Aerobridges.
Finally here's some news regarding the Coimbatore International Airport. A new departure terminal is all set to be constructed at a proposed cost of Rs 125 crores with 3 new Aerobridges.
Serving the aviation needs of lakhs of people of seven districts, the Coimbatore International Airport expansion scheme which was announced during 2010 is nothing less than stalled, due to the inordinate delay and lame explanations by the Tamil Nadu government regarding land acquisition and handing it to the Airport Authority of India (AAI).
Despite snail pace expansion works, the Coimbatore airport continues to gain momentum and has been witnessing promising growth (both cargo and passenger). Each year, on an average 30 lakh peoples use Coimbatore airport, say reports.
Globally, all airports are reeling from impact of coronavirus pandemic. Even with reports of outbreaks of the novel coronavirus continues, air traffic remained relatively stable at the Coimbatore airport. Despite the sobering reminder of the delay in expansion works at Coimbatore airport, the construction of a new domestic terminal building has brought respite among the citizens.
Sources from aviation department attributes "inadequate space" as the major hindrance for Coimbatore international airport expansion. "If the state government acquires the ear-marked land of 627 acres under the expansion scheme and hands it over to Airport Authority of India (AAI), expansion will commence on war-footing. With the land acquisition scheme been stalled, the airport management still continues face lift activities by adding infrastructural facilities", the source added.
In this regard, a new departure terminal for arrival, has been approved. The departure terminal building will function in the old building, as usual. The initiative was kick started in 2019 and the project has now been approved at a proposed cost of Rs.125 crore.
"Construction work is expected to begin within 3 months. The new infrastructure will be built at the additional space between the present departure terminal and technical area. While, the air cargo complex space would remain the same, in future the new departure terminal building may be dedicated exclusively for domestic sector", the source added.
After completion of work, the AAI has plans to include additional facilities to benefit the passengers. At present 4 Aero bridges are being used at the airport. Once the new departure terminal builing starts functioning, 3 more Aero bridges will be added, which will thereby increase the total aero bridges number to 7.
"If the state government completes land acquisition, the AAI has several plans to develop the infrastructure and thereby add more passenger and cargo flight services in both domestic and international sectors", said sources from Aviation department.