Trichy Airport's New ATC Tower Likely Operational by December.

The new air traffic control (ATC) tower and technical block at Trichy airport are expected to be completed by December this year, according to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). The new tower is designed to manage the increased air traffic utilizing the airport's new integrated passenger terminal. Its completion was originally anticipated this month.

The structure stands at a height of 151 feet and comprises an eight-storey ATC block and a four-storey technical block. The project was sanctioned with an outlay of ₹60.7 crore, and construction work commenced in mid-2023.

Officials report that approximately 75 percent of the construction work has been finished to date. "We have planned to complete the work by September. Subsequently, a team from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will inspect and approve it for commissioning. It may become operational by December," S Gnaneswara Rao, director of Trichy airport, told TOI.

Strategically located between the old terminal and the new integrated passenger terminal, the new ATC tower will offer controllers an unobstructed view of aircraft approaching and departing the runway. Trichy airport has seen a notable increase in air traffic, currently handling between 53 and 62 flights daily, encompassing both domestic and international services. This is an increase from the 40 to 50 flights handled per day in February of this year. In response to this surge in flight operations, the AAI has already commissioned a Doppler Very High-Frequency Omni Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (DVOR/DME), an advanced navigational aid, at the airport.

Meanwhile, aviation enthusiasts have voiced a plea for the preservation of the old ATC tower, which began operations in November 1960, suggesting it be designated as a heritage site. "Instead of demolishing the existing ATC tower after the new facility becomes operational, AAI must consider using the 65-year-old tower for educational and training purposes," commented H Ubaidullah, an aviation analyst. Officials have indicated that a final decision regarding the future use of the old ATC tower is yet to be made.