The new integrated terminal building of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) at Kenjar here is expected to be ready by September-end. At present, the terminal building is at Bajpe.
The AAI has adopted a roof-water harvesting system in the new building to collect 60 lakh litres of rain water. In addition, a facility has been created for sewage treatment. The treated water will be used for gardening.
When Nalin Kumar Kateel, MP, reviewed the progress of work on the terminal building at Kenjar on Thursday, officials told him that the entire work would be completed by September-end.
Once the new terminal building is ready, the distance between the city and the airport will be reduced by about 8 km. The terminal building at Bajpe is about 22 km from the city.
Mr. Kateel told the officials that if they could get the work completed by September-end, he would pursue matters related to commissioning of the building with the Civil Aviation Ministry.
J.T. Radhakrishna, Deputy General Manager (Civil), and N. Prem Prasad, Deputy General Manager (Electrical), apprised Mr. Kateel of the progress of work on the building. The new director of the airport, V.N. Chandran, was present.
Mr. Radhakrishna told Mr. Kateel that the roof of the building had been completed and the basement was ready. Only interior ceiling work on the ground and first floor (mezzanine floor) and some work related to air-conditioning were pending. Seven escalators had been installed in the building.
The building would have 22 check-in counters. It would have three conveyor belts at the arrival section, he said.
The car parking facility to accommodate 300 cars at a time was ready.
In addition, the apron (parking facility for aircraft) was also ready. The apron, covering about 48,000 sq. m, was sufficient to park five aircraft at a time. Four Airbus 310, and one Airbus 321, could be parked at a time. The link taxiway to the main runway was also ready, Mr. Radhakrishna told the MP.
