AAI sits over land,work on Mohali airport yet to take off

“The JVC is yet to be formed while details are being worked out by AAI in consultation with Punjab and Haryana,” said AAI Executive Director (Corporate Affairs) M C Kishore from New Delhi.

Kishore said the proposal for the construction of an international civil air terminal and airside facilities is still in the nascent stage.

In a clear admission that AAI is sitting over the project for which Punjab has already acquired and handed over 306 acres in Jheourheri village abutting the existing Chandigarh domestic airport since April 2008,AAI General Manager (Aerodrome Planning) Piyush Joshi said: “There is no change in the status of the project from what prevailed in December 2008.”

On December 10,last year,AAI had claimed that there was a plan to set up only an international civil air terminal complex adjoining the existing Chandigarh airport. It was to be taken up as a joint venture with 51 per cent equity of AAI and 24.5 per cent each of Punjab and Haryana.

Back then also AAI was non-committal on when the work would begin and be completed. “The timeframe when the proposed new international airport complex would be operational cannot be specified at this stage,” AAI officials had revealed.

According to the plan,the existing runway of the Indian Air Force at Chandigarh airport would continue to be used for international flights while infrastructure like parallel taxi track,apron,terminal building,navigational aids and city-side developments were planned to be added.

With regard to the Chandigarh airport,AAI said: “Due to land constraints,only expansion of the terminal building is being undertaken to cater to 400 passengers and a parking lot is being developed.”

The Plan
AAI will bear an estimated expenditure of Rs 80 crore on the construction of international terminal building having a modular design to cater to passengers with four passenger boarding bridges.

The new world-class terminal building spread over an area of 12,150 sq mtrs,will accommodate 400 passengers,would be centrally air-conditioned with all facilities,including passenger boarding bridges with visual docking guidance system,escalators,elevators,in-line baggage conveyer system in the arrival and departure hall,CCTVs,FIDS and car parking facilities. The Punjab Home department would provide peripheral security and an anti-hijacking squad.

TIMELINE
JANUARY 4,2008: Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between AAI,Punjab and Haryana. Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel laid the foundation stone.

MARCH-APRIL 2008<>/b: 306 acres acquired,record compensation of Rs 460.82 crore paid,land handed over to the Centre.