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Civil Aviation Ministry proposes to make Nagpur Airport international airport
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
May 19, 2005: The Union Cabinet has decided to upgrade Nagpur airport, the oldest airport in the country to an international airport, and rename it as `Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport'. The government has also plans to turn the airport into an international cargo hub and intends to make it the cargo headquarter of Indian Airlines' cargo division.
The airport would help in providing greater domestic and international connectivity to areas in central India and would have facilities like customs and immigration within a couple of months, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said.
The airport, which is being developed as an international cargo hub, thanks to its strategic location would also be made an international passenger hub. The upgradation will make the airport 14th international airport in India, he said.
The minister said that Air Arabia has expressed willingness to start a Sharjah-Nagpur flight and is seeking necessary regulatory approvals. If permitted, this would be the first international airline to commence operations to Nagpur.
Besides, he said plans are also afoot to rope in a global firm to set up a maintenance and repair facility for aircraft at Nagpur. This would be of help to Indian aircraft to carry out repairs in the country, saving time of money required to sent it abroad for refurbishment.
Earlier, R C Sinha, Vice-Chairman and Managing Director of Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), said investors from middle-east would be roped into on a public-private-partnership basis to upgrade Nagpur airport into an international passenger and cargo hub.
MADC, a special purpose government vehicle floated for the implementation of the project, expects the project to cost around Rs 1,000 crore, which also includes constructing an adjacent Special Economic Zone (SEZ), he said.
Extending the existing airstrip and upgrading it to handle third-generation aircraft, expanding the terminal building and installing aerobridges would take place under the first phase of development. Construction is expected to start within three months with completion scheduled for 2009.
The second phase of the project, slated to be completed by 2035 and would involve building a second airstrip and a new terminal building.
Featuring housing facilities for IT companies, finance and banking service providers, jewellery park, textile zone and export facilities, the SEZ would contribute to the growth of air traffic from the airport.
Meanwhile, the Minister also announced plans to upgrade Aurangabad airport to an international aerodrome. The ministry would also open Pune’s Lohegaon airport, which is under Indian Air Force control, to be opened civilian flights in the next two to three months.
BY OUR AVIATION CORRESPONDENT
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