Nearly seven years after it was proposed, the work to install a travelator connecting the domestic and international terminals will begin this week.
It will take about 8 weeks to install this facility and is likely to open to public by February next year. This will be located right outside the terminals (city side of the airport).
“We floated the tender few months ago and subsequently the contract was awarded. The materials arrived last week and the installation of this facility will begin this weekend. Since it is a long process, it will take about two months. After a brief period of testing, we hope to open it for use in February,” an official said.
It is estimated to cost ₹40 crore. Of this, ₹25 crore will be spent on civil work and ₹15 crore for installation of this facility, he added.
The travelator was originally a part of the phase I modernisation project for Chennai airport, but it was dropped from the project for various reasons. Though the officials planned to revive it later, it had been delayed.
Then, AAI planned to have it as part of phase II modernisation of the Chennai airport that will cost about ₹2,500 crore. The project awaits final approval. “But since it has been delayed already, we wanted to take the work for this project and the multi-level car parking much before the actual phase II project begins,” an official said.
There is another small travelator connecting both terminals past the security check of the terminals.
