Amdavadis hail change in airport terminal plan In just Year

Ahmedabad: The decision to turn the under-construction international airport building into a domestic terminal after investing a staggering Rs300 crore may have angered the aviation experts here, but has been welcomed by the city's frequent fliers.

Apparently, while deciding to construct an international terminal, aviation sector sources said, the union ministry had speculated the volume of international traffic increasing significantly by 2012-13. However, now the ministry realises the plan was far from feasible.

But, the aviation experts here believe that the abrupt change in the civil aviation ministry shows a clear lack of planning and foresight on the part of the airport planners. For example, while the airport is spending big amount of money on constructions of facilities, there are no sufficient provisions to regenerate remunerations through these infrastructures.

This is despite the fact that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) is facing a financial crunch. Even at Ahmedabad airport, several airlines owe the AAI big amounts, but there is no sustained effort to recover the dues. Between April 1 and June 30, 2009, the airport authorities sent bills to various parties including airlines, shops and restaurants which amounted to Rs32.22 crore.

In the previous quarter - from January 1 to March 31, too, sources said, the airport authorities had sent bills of Rs31.79 crore. However, more than 50% of these amounts are still unpaid.

Besides, a walkalator is also being constructed at the airport. Once ready, this walkalator will join the existing terminals to the under-constructed terminal. Sources said constructing the walkalator would cost the AAI another several crores, but it would be of no use as there are no potential users at present at the airport.

Passengers would hardly need to travel from domestic terminal to the international one because the time of arrival of international flights and domestic flights are completely different.

Maushumi Chakravarty, the spokesperson of aviation ministry, New Delhi, said that by 2016 the AAI plans an integrated terminal at Ahmedabad airport. She told DNA that like Delhi airport where every arrival and departure is linked, Ahmedabad airport will also be developed similarly.

Source: Dnaindia