The Tiruchi airport is poised for enhanced security and surveillance with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) deciding to bring it under Closed Circuit Television System (CCTV) soon.
The CCTV facility involving usage of Static and ‘Pan Tilt Zoom’ surveillance cameras would be in place at the Tiruchi airport within six months, the Airport Controller S. Dharmaraj said on Tuesday.
A total number of 50 surveillance cameras would be installed at vantage points to cover the entire airport including the apron, perimeter road, terminal buildings and the car parking slot.
Orders had already been placed by the Planning Directorate for the camera-based monitoring system to be in place within six months, Mr. Dharmaraj told reporters here.
He said the AAI was supporting a survey being conducted by the district administration for the acquisition of land for expansion of the Tiruchi airport runway from the present 8,000 feet to 12,500 feet. Expansion of the runway would pave the way for comfortable landing and take off of wide bodied jets such as the Boeing 747 aircraft.
We require 439 acres for the complete development of the Tiruchi Airport, Mr. Dharmaraj said adding that the survey which commenced last week was expected to be completed in 20-25 days. The AAI has planned to construct a new technical-cum-control tower at the Tiruchi Airport as part of a move to modernise the ATC.
Operation of flights from Chennai to Tiruchi; Tiruchi – Bangalore and Tiruchi – Mumbai would be proposed during the Aerodrome Advisory Committee meeting slated on November 5.
Stating that the passenger traffic of around 65,000 air travellers every month at Tiruchi Airport was encouraging, Mr. Dharmaraj said a study on cargo potential at the airport is planned to be conducted. About 150 tonnes of perishable commodities were being flown from Tiruchi to the Gulf countries every month, he added.
