Government Approves Modernization/Expansion of Kolkata Airport
The Government has approved the proposal for modernization/expansion of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose (NSCBI) International Airport, Kolkata at an estimated cost of Rs.1942.51 crores. The work which is expected to be completed within 30 months of award, will result in an additional passengers handling capacity of 20 million passengers per annum (mppa). The airport will be upgraded to international standards; the secondary runway will be extended and made suitable for operations of large commercial aircrafts; the navigation facilities at the airport will also be upgraded; additional parking space and taxiways to facilitate parking and movement of aircraft will be created and the road/rail connectivity of the airport with the city will be improved.
It may be recalled that in April, 2007, the Committee on Infrastructure headed by the Prime Minister had decided that the Kolkata Airport would be developed to international standards by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) with its own resources. In August 2007, the AAI submitted the proposal for PIB approval. In October 2007, an Inter-Ministerial Group (IMG) cleared the proposal and in December 2007, Planning Commission accorded ‘in-principle’ approval for the development of NSCBI Airport, Kolkata. The Ministry for Environment gave approval to the project in March, 2008.
The Public Investment Board (PIB) approved the proposal of the Kolkata Airport on May 30, 2008. It noted that on the issue of traffic growth, Kolkata is indeed the gateway to East. Though traffic growth in the past may not have been spectacular, in view of the ‘Look East’ Policy of the Government and the signing of several bilateral agreements with ASEAN & SAARC countries, this region is bound to see increase in traffic over the years. In the case of large projects, it is necessary to plan sufficiently ahead, as borne out by the experience of the Bangalore Airport. It also noted that AAI would be following a modular approach plan to take up augmentation of capacity in a phased manner, as suggested by the Planning Commission. The PIB has been assured of AAI’s financial performance and its capacity to achieve financial closure for the project through internal resources and borrowing on its own strength, and execute the project within the stipulated time.
The Kolkata Airport had international traffic of 1.01 million and domestic traffic of 6.45 million in 2007-08. The airport had witnessed a 6.4 % growth in international traffic and 21.4 % growth in domestic traffic over the last five years. It has been estimated that the Kolkata Airport will witness a combined growth of around 19 % per annum up to 2011-12. The growth rate thereafter, is expected to stabilize at 14.5 % up to 2015-16. Based on these projections, Kolkata Airport is expected to handle 24.65 mppa in 2015-16.
In the existing airport, the domestic terminal has a capacity to handle 4.06 mppa and the international terminal 0.88 mppa. Thus, both the terminal are saturated. The proposed new integrated building of 1.80,000 sq. meter area will be built at an estimated cost of 1617.51 crores and will be able to handle 20 mppa. The existing domestic terminal building will continue to be used with appropriate modifications and façade treatment. The combined terminal building of 24.06 mppa capacity is expected to get saturated in 2015-16.
The total project cost is estimated to be Rs.1942.51 crores including extension of the secondary runway to a total length of 3239 meters at an estimated cost of Rs.35 crores: construction of 11 additional parking base for aircraft as well as taxi at an estimated cost of Rs.65 crores; upgradation of CNS equipments etc. at an estimated cost of Rs.185 crores and construction of grade separator and connectivity to railway structure at an estimated cost of Rs.40 crore.
AAI will fund 80 % of the project cost (i.e. Rs.1554 crores) through internal resources and the balance 20% (i.e. Rs.388.51 crores) through commercial borrowings. AAI has already spent Rs.32 crores in 2007-08 towards consultancy and other preparatory work for the Kolkata Airport.
MC.
(Release ID :41337)