The new domestic terminal at the Chennai airport will be operationalised after August 15, V.P. Agrawal, Chairman, Airports Authority of India (AAI), said here on Wednesday.
Talking to reporters after inspecting the various facilities at the new terminal building, Mr Agrawal said “all the works have been completed and the terminal will be fully ready before August 15. The inauguration date will be announced depending upon the availability of the appointments of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Chief Minister Jayalalithaa,” he said.
Makeshift arrangements would be made in the new terminal for facilities such as eateries and restaurants. Once everything is ready, global brands would be invited to open their outlets, he said. The AAI has planned a trial run for the new international terminal next week. There was a manpower problem. Customs and Immigration departments and the Central Industrial Security Force had to post additional personnel. The AAI was in touch with Union Home and Finance Ministries.
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Answering a query on the introduction of Private Public Partnership (PPP) for the new terminals, Mr. Agrawal said the AAI did not want the PPP mode operation for both Chennai and Kolkata airports. Instead, the AAI was looking at a joint venture management contract, under which the AAI would hold 51 per cent and the rest would be with the private player.
Recently, the Chennai airport was chosen ‘Airport of the Year’ for 2012 for cargo handling. This is the third consecutive time the award was bagged by the airport.