Massive facelift awaits MIA

Bajpe: The aim of Airport Authority of India (AAI) is to make Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) among Top 10 airports in the world, said Airport Authority of India Chennai Division Regional Executive Director S Shreekumar adding that MIA is all set to undertake several development works in the next two years.

He addressed reporters and said that after securing the second position in India as per ASQ rating, the airport has achieved a score of 4.85 out of 5 and is placed in the 30th position in the world rankings. The authority has been striving to bring the airport to first position in ASQ rating and various development projects have been planned in this regard, he said.

“Mangaluru International Airport is consistently performing well. In the year 2012, the passenger movement at Mangaluru airport was 7.5 lac and in the last five years the passenger movement has reached up to 23.5 lac. The cargo handled in the year 2016-17 was 867 metric ton and in 2017-18 it was 2,338 metric ton. This progress indicates 100% growth in the one year,” he observed.

Master plan to develop MIA

Mr Shreekumar said considering the progress, a master plan has been designed to develop this airport. The plan includes the extension of terminal building worth Rs 1332.24 crore increasing its area by 10,000 square meters, two additional passenger boarding bridges, visa on arrival facility, upgrading the present single baggage conveyer belt in international arrival section to three and similarly domestic section baggage conveyers will be upgraded to three. A new arrival hall will be built at the car park level. The elevated level will only function for departures. The works will be completed by April 2020, he informed.

He further explained that the basic safety strip of the runway will be widened and a parallel taxi track will be constructed at a cost of Rs 121 crore. Aircraft parking bays will be extended at a cost of Rs 7 crore to enhance the runway handling capacity from 10 flights per hour to 20 flights per hour. This project is expected to be completed by August 2019, he said.

“Aircraft parking bays will be extended at the cost of Rs 7 crore to accommodate more flights and to offer night parking facilities to airlines, which is expected to complete by September 2019. Facelift of terminal building worth Rs 7.50 crore, includes complete renovation of terminal building wash rooms to international standards, minor expansions of domestic SHA, modern state of art false ceiling, claddings, planters and other works will be taken up. In order to showcase the local art inside the terminal building there are plans to install guthu styled pillars, tiger dance and Yakshagana figures, modern art,” he said.

New air navigation systems

New state of the art and advanced air navigation systems like DCOR, Radar, ILS and advanced security system like threat containment vehicle to handle bombs, CCTV, CATFM are being introduced in Mangaluru International Airport, he added.

CSR activities by AAI

Under its CSR initiative, the AAI has undertaken several activities such as constructing Malavoor drainage system worth Rs 6.75 crore as presently no storm water drainage system is present beyond AAI boundary in Malavoor village.

“District authority requested AAI to fund this project and AAI agreed for the same. MOU was signed with district administration, the work will be carried out by Panchayat Raj Engineering Department and cost will be borne by AAI. Construction of Anganvadi in Malavoor village worth Rs 14 lac, construction of memorial for air accident victims at NMPT garden and providing bore wells in the villages are some of the works planned,” he explained.