Intl terminal may be operational by March next year.

With around 70 per cent work on the international terminal of the airport having been completed, it is likely to be made operational by March next year. The structure of the building is nearing completion, work on furnishing of the terminal will start soon.

Once the terminal is complete, the existing terminal at the Chandigarh Airport will be used only for domestic flights.

The new terminal will have a capacity to handle 1,600 passengers, comprising 1,150 domestic and 450 international. Four aerobridges will be constructed. The governments of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh are involved in the project.

It is proposed that on the lines of the airport in Delhi, the entry and exit of passengers will be at different levels. There will be space for parking of five big aircraft and three small ones. The present terminal has space for parking of three large and two small planes.

The runway will be extended by 1,500 metres. Also, a parallel taxi track is proposed to be constructed.

The cargo complex has been completed at the terminal and there is a proposal to operate it on a public-private partnership basis. The total cost of the construction of the new terminal is around Rs. 450 crore.


THE INDIAN EXPRESS