Kolkata airport’s modernisation process is set to take off with the Public Investment Board’s (PIB) meeting here later this week expected to give its nod to the Rs 2,000 crore project. The meeting comes shortly after a public spat on the airport’s size and scale between the Planning Commission and the Civil Aviation Ministry, with the former accusing the latter of “overbuilding” the project.Work on Chennai airport is yet to be cleared at the pre-PIB level to iron out differences in approach, if any, which ministries concerned may have on the project. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), which would undertake modernisation projects at both airports, has already approved consultants for the Kolkata project which include Aeroport du Paris Internationale and Hong Kong’s RMJM.Kolkata airport modernisation works include the extension of its second runway, construction of rapid exit taxiways and aprons, upgradation of air traffic management and communication, navigation and surveillance systems and a brand new integrated terminal to cater to 20 million passengers. The Ministry had in August last year approved the AAI’s detailed project report.
