AAI to upgrade Chennai, Kolkata airports

New Delhi: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will upgrade the Kolkata and Chennai airports at a cost of Rs 3,800 crore.

“AAI will spend Rs. 2,000 crore to modernise the Kolkata airport and Rs. 1,800 crore for the Chennai airport. The modernisation process has to be completed by 2010-11,” Chairman K. Ramalingam said.

In Kolkata, a new runway would be laid along the existing one. In Chennai, the existing cross runway would be operationalised and an additional runway built.

A third runway at the Delhi airport would be commissioned by September. Speaking at the inauguration of ‘Aerodrome India 2008’, Mr. Ramalingam said there was need to build aviation infrastructure at a faster rate to manage traffic and build capacity at airports.