13-Nov-2007
New Delhi, Nov 13 (PTI) The country's software hubs Bangalore and Hyderabad will have new airports by March next year, while work for modernising the existing airports in Kolkata and Chennai will also begin around the same time.
Addressing the Economic Editors' Conference here, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel also said three new airports would come up in the Northeastern region at Pekyong in Sikkim, Itanagar in Arunachal Pradesh and Kohima in Nagaland.
In an effort to provide air connectivity across the country, the ministry has been encouraging state governments to come up with proposals to establish airports or develop the existing infrastructure such as airstrips there.
"There is a change in the mindset and state governments are taking pro-active steps. In the last six months, states like Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh and Gujarat, have shown interest in developing airports bringing in joint venture firms," Patel said.
On Kolkata airport modernisation, he said Airports Authority of India (AAI) had prepared a detailed action plan for developing it at a cost of about Rs 1,943 crore.
The work includes extension of secondary runway, apron, upgrading Air Traffic Controller, communication and navigational equipments along with the construction of an integrated passenger terminal building with an annual capacity of handling 20 million passengers.
Chennai airport development would cost an estimated Rs 2,062 crore and involve expansion of the secondary runway, expansion and remodelling of domestic and international terminals and city-side development.
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