CCEA to clear modernisation of airports

New Delhi: The Chennai and Kolkata airport modernisation process is likely to be put on the fast track soon with the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) expected to clear both the projects at its meeting scheduled to be held here on Thursday.

The state-owned Airports Authority of India (AAI) is to undertake the modernisation of both the airports.

The airport in Chennai is to be modernised at an estimated cost of Rs 1,800 crore of which almost Rs 1,077 crore would be required for the new domestic terminal building and for modernisation and extension of the international terminal.

While 80 per cent of the project is slated to be funded through internal resources of AAI, the rest would be done through commercial borrowings. No user development fee or budgetary support is being envisaged for the project.

Following upgradation, the airport’s international terminal building would be able to cater to seven million passengers a year, while the domestic one would enhance its capacity from four million to seven million by October 2010.

Similarly, the Kolkata modernisation programme is expected to cost around Rs 1942.5 crore of which approximately Rs 1,600 crore will be required for the construction of the new integrated building.

The modernisation work at both the airports is expected to begin next month the Minister for Civil Aviation, Mr Praful Patel, told the Consultative Committee meeting of Members of Parliament earlier this week.