AAI to invest Rs12,434 crore over five years in aviation infrastructure revamp
28 Feb 2008
New Delhi: The country's aviation infrastructure is set to receive a massive investment boost over the next five years with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) planning to sink Rs12,434 crore in the up-gradation and modernization of facilities.
AAI will spend 43 per cent of its planned outlay in the upgrade of the three metro airports of Kolkata, Chennai and Trivandrum. Remaining investments will go into upgrading non-metro airports and in modernising existing aeronautical facilities.
Of the Rs5,332.13 crore spend earmarked for the three metro airports, Chennai airport will utilize the highest amount, Rs2,462 crore, for its upgrade, while Rs2,417 crore is earmarked for the Kolkata airport.
Trivandrum airport will take in the balance Rs452 crore.
AAI has already floated tenders for the modernisation of these metro projects, which at some point of time are expected to come at par with India's busiest airports of Mumbai and Delhi.
According to AAI officials, the process to scale up Kolkata and Chennai to world standards has already begun and adequate funds are in place.
The spend will go into starting new facilities like integrated passenger terminals, construction of new runways and launching of hi-tech communication services, which will be of global standards. The AAI will rope in foreign partners for construction on a turnkey basis.
AAI will also be investing a substantial amount into the modernisation of aeronautical communication systems at more than 125 airports managed by the authority. These will include the installation of new communication and navigational systems for air traffic control (ATC) in inland and oceanic areas using satellite mode of communication.
