Tiruchi airport’s new terminal takes shape

With tendering process completed for the construction of the state-of-the-art passenger terminal building at the Tiruchi international airport and mandatory clearance having coming through from the Public Investment Board, the multi-crore project is expected to commence in October.

A leading Kolkata based construction company had quoted the lowest price in the bidding process for the multi-layered passenger terminal building construction project at the fast growing Tiruchi airport.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) was in the process of awarding the work to the lowest bidder for the mega project to be executed at a cost exceeding Rs. 650 crore, a senior AAI official told The Hindu .

Alongside this development, the Public Investment Board of the Government of India headed by Secretary (Expenditure) has cleared funds to the tune of Rs. 930 crore for the construction of new passenger terminal building as well as for the construction of a new apron and a new Technical block – Cum – Air Traffic Control Tower at the Tiruchi airport, the official said.

The clearance from the Public Investment Board was mandatory for executing mega projects of the Central Ministries / Public Sector Undertakings.

With these developments taking place, the construction work of the futuristic terminal building was expected to commence in October, the official said.

The new building would come up adjoining the existing structure with the blueprint having already been readied by a French consultant engaged by the AAI.

The design of the new terminal building has been drawn up taking into account the peak hour demand and anticipating growth of passenger traffic over the next 15 years. It would come up on an area exceeding 60,000 square metres on the site owned by the AAI adjoining the existing terminal building with basement and air-side corridor.

Simultaneously, the AAI would soon be submitting the safety assessment pertaining to the terminal building project to obtain clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The AAI had obtained No-Objection Certificate (NOC) for height clearance for the new terminal building which would be about 35 metres.

With public hearing connected with the terminal building project having already been conducted at Tiruchi, the AAI authorities expect environment clearance to come through from the Union Ministry of Environment and Forests soon. The official said the AAI would now be in a position to spend for the project with the Public Investment Board having given its clearance.

As per the plan, the new terminal building would be completed in three years from the date of the award of contract.

The plan is to complete the work in 2021. The construction of the new apron would commence soon with the agency putting up a site office and mobilising materials for the proposed project.

The new apron would be in a position to accommodate 10 aircraft.

The site for the new Technical block – cum – Air Traffic Control Tower has been identified. The new ATC tower would be constructed in such way that the Air Traffic Controllers could have a 360 degree view, the official added.


On the runway

It would come up on an area exceeding 60,000 square metres and is to be completed in 2021

The AAI has obtained NOC for height clearance which would be about 35 metres

The new apron would be in a position to accommodate 10 aircraft