The Coimbatore International Airport is all set to get infrastructure and passenger amenities worth more than Rs. 14.5 crore this year.
This includes two new aerobridges, two more aprons for parking aircrafts and a lift at the departure area.
Airport Director D. Paul Manickam told The Hindu that the two new aerobridges worth Rs. 9 crore would be installed at both ends of the terminal building. These bridges are in addition to the two existing ones that were brought from the old Hyderabad airport and put to use here in 2012.
Aerobridges can be used only for bigger aircrafts. Though a majority of the aircrafts operating from Coimbatore are smaller ones, at times the bigger aircrafts too are unable to use the existing aerobridges due to parking and operational constraints. Addition of two new aerobridges is expected to meet with increasing demand – when bigger aircrafts connect the city.
The Airport Director said that the tender for the aerobridges for Coimbatore has been floated by the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Head Quartered in Delhi, along with the tender for the facility at a few other cities in the country. The materials are expected in a few days and installation would begin in about three months.
About the aircraft parking aprons to be established at an estimate Rs. 5.2 crore, Mr. Paul Manickam said that the airport now has eight aprons for aircrafts. A senior AAI official said that there is requirement for 15 aprons. According to the official, all the existing aprons are active due to private and unscheduled flights and choppers to the city.
These are in addition to close to 27 scheduled flights that connect the city. More over Coimbatore-based airliner Air Carnival is expected to begin operation soon with a total of three aircrafts. The company has asked airport authorities for parking bays for as many aircrafts regularly. Tender for constructing new apron would soon be floated and completed by the end of this financial year.
The elevator to be installed at Rs. 26 lakh at the departure area will connect the restaurant at the first floor.
This work is expected to be completed in six months. In addition to the infrastructure, the AAI has also sanctioned Rs. 23 crore for construction of quarters for the AAI staff.
