Latest news with #AAI


The Hindu
10 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
AAI all set to assume control of multi-level car parking facility, second pick-up point to be accessible in a month
In a significant development, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is all set to assume control of the multi-level car parking facility at Chennai airport which could bring in much-awaited relief for passengers. AAI also plans to start the second pick-up point for boarding cabs in a month's time. A few months ago, the contractor handling the Aero Hub, which houses of food, retail outlets, parking area and cab pick-up, submitted his termination notice to AAI unwilling to continue at the airport. Following it, discussions were held at New Delhi regarding management of the facility. Recently, the AAI board made a decision that it will take control of the multi-level car parking facility for now. As far as the retail and food outlets are concerned, those willing to continue with AAI can do so and there may not be any issue, sources said. For almost a year now, many passengers have been unhappy over lugging their baggage to the second floor of the Aero Hub to take a taxi. Though AAI runs buggy services, passengers wanted AAI to reinstate the old cab pick-up point opposite to the T1 Domestic Terminal. To address the issue, AAI decided to have two cab pick-up points — one in the Aero Hub and the second at the same spot as the old arrangement of boarding from the National Flag point opposite to the T1 Terminal - accessible when the plaza construction comes to an end. The plaza — a space for passengers to relax and unwind — has been shaping up opposite to the T1 domestic terminal. Despite numerous delays, it may be finally ready in a few weeks. Air passengers have been keenly anticipating the plaza facility as they can take cabs from this location. Meanwhile, AAI has floated fresh bids to manage the parking and cab-pick up.


Time of India
11 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
PMC, AAI officials inspect trash removal activities near airport
1 2 3 Pune: Officials of the Pune civic body and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Saturday conducted a joint inspection of garbage lifting activities, intensified by PMC recently. Sandip Kadam, head of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC)'s solid waste management department, said the administration will increase vigilance to curb the dumping of waste around the airport. "A decision has been made to conduct a special cleaning drive at the vegetable market in Wagholi and create awareness among residents about not dumping garbage in the open," Kadam said. You Can Also Check: Pune AQI | Weather in Pune | Bank Holidays in Pune | Public Holidays in Pune Pune municipal commissioner Naval Kishore Ram, airport director Santosh Dhoke and local MLA Bapu Pathare were present during the inspection. Saturday's inspection came after a review meeting held earlier this week by city MP and minister of state for civil aviation, Murlidhar Mohol, regarding trash management in the airport area and the rise in bird activity. Eleven spots prone to heavy movement of birds and dogs near the airport were identified. Following the inspection, PMC officials stated that garbage was lifted from most open spots. "PMC now plans to issue notices to private plot owners near the airport area,instructingthem to clean the dumped garbage from their plots within a week," a civic official said. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Buy the Dip: Top 5 Dividend Stocks with Growth Potential Seeking Alpha Read More Undo The administration will also initiate action against the plot owners as per the provisions of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act. "This includes taking possession of spaces that created unsanitary conditions, imposing fines, and recovering expenses for clearing trash," the official said. In the meeting, it was also decided that AAI and the Air Force would take steps to maintain and repair the roads they own and ensure garbage was not dumped there, and PMC would extend assistance as required. "Steps were being taken to convert the Hadapsar garbage ramp and other ramps into closed sheds and adopt a mechanised transfer system," the PMC official said.


Time of India
12 hours ago
- Business
- Time of India
Darbhanga runway to expand for international operation: Official
Patna: Darbhanga airport is expected to become the first international airport of Bihar within the next two years. Once the required infrastructure is developed, this airport will become eligible for the operation of wide-body aircraft. Sources said at present this airport functions with a makeshift terminal, while the foundation stone for a permanent terminal was laid last year. The new terminal is slated to be ready by Dec next year. "This will be a major infrastructure development, especially in the civil aviation sector in the state," said chief secretary Amrit Lal Meena. Nilesh Ramchandra Deore, special secretary in the cabinet secretariat (with additional charge as director of civil aviation, Bihar), said work on infrastructure development of this airport has been prioritised. A key upgrade in progress is the extension of Darbhanga's runway to support larger, long-haul planes. At present, the runway is about 2,743 metres (9,000 feet) long, which is sufficient for narrow-body jets but short of typical requirements for heavy wide-body aircraft. International aviation norms generally call for a runway of around 3,200 metres or more for wide-body operations. To meet this, the govt is extending the runway to approximately 3,660-3,700 metres. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dementia Has Been Linked To a Common Habit. Do You Do It? Memory Health Learn More Undo This longer runway will enable Darbhanga to handle large aircraft (even up to Boeing 777s or Airbus A330s) and is aligned with international standards for safety and performance. Expanding the runway requires substantial land acquisition. The AAI, in an Oct 2024 communication, requested 90 acres of additional land to facilitate extending the runway to 12,000 feet. The Bihar cabinet has since approved this request: around 90 acres will be acquired at a cost of Rs 245 crore to support the runway expansion.


Indian Express
a day ago
- Business
- Indian Express
PM to virtually inaugurate Halwara airport civil terminal building on July 27; no word on flight operations yet
Nearly seven years after the Punjab government approved the project, with missing deadlines since 2018, the newly constructed Halwara airport civil terminal building will be inaugurated virtually via video-conferencing by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27. Ludhiana Deputy Commissioner Himanshu Jain said following a confirmation from the Airport Authority of India (AAI), preparations for the event have been commenced. The terminal has been constructed near the Indian Air Force (IAF) base in Halwara, Raikot sub-division in Ludhiana district, following a long pending demand of local residents for an 'international airport' in the district. Initially, the new terminal building is meant to cater just one domestic flight at a time, with a capacity of 150 passengers each for arrival and departure for a flight. While this building is set to be inaugurated on July 27, there is yet no confirmation on when flight operations would begin there. 'Neither we have any schedule on when flights would begin from the new terminal nor do we know which carrier would commence the first flight. It would probably be Air India, which might operate a flight to Delhi, but there is no confirmation yet. Some security permissions and other work are still pending. The building would be inaugurated on July 27, as per the schedule received from the Centre,' an official said, requesting anonymity. The official further said: 'A discussion to shift the lone FlyBig Ludhiana-Delhi flight, which currently operates from Sahnewal domestic airport, to the new Halwara terminal — following which Sahnewal facility will be closed permanently — is underway.' Addressing a press conference on the development works in Ludhiana on Friday, Punjab's Industries and Commerce, Investment Promotion and NRI Affairs Minister Sanjeev Arora said PM Modi would inaugurate the new terminal building. 'The AAI, in collaboration with the district administration, has been finalising preparations for the inauguration. The terminal will be dedicated to the public on July 27, with Air India to announce flight commencement dates thereafter,' Arora said. Arora — who recently won the Ludhiana West bypoll on AAP ticket — was previously a Rajya Sabha member from Ludhiana, and had been following up on the Halwara terminal project with the Centre. While the successive Punjab governments — currently led by the AAP and earlier by the Congress — have claimed the upcoming Halwara airport to be an 'international' facility, it will apparently take several years for it to become a reality. An international airport in Ludhiana has been a long pending demand of industrialists and businessmen, who currently have to take flights from Delhi, Amritsar or Chandigarh, despite the city being an industrial hub. Issue over the name Though the airport has been named 'Halwara airport' due to its proximity to the IAF's Halwara base, the terminal is located in Aitiana village where at least 272 farmers have given away over 162 acres of land for the project. Punjab Chief Minister Bhagwant Mann earlier announced the AAP government had proposed that the Halwara airport should be renamed after local hero, freedom fighter, and Ghadar revolutionary Shaheed Kartar Singh Sarabha, who was hanged by the British when he was just 19. He belonged to Sarabha village in Ludhiana district. The Centre, however, is yet to approve the proposed name, sources said. The inexplicable delay


Time of India
a day ago
- Business
- Time of India
Finally, Takeoff Call For Halwara Airport: Terminal to be launched by PM on July 27
Ludhiana: The terminal building of Halwara Airport would be virtually inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on July 27, industry and NRI affairs minister Sanjeev Arora announced on Friday. This comes as good news for residents of Ludhiana, who have been waiting anxiously for the airport to start operations. Presiding over a high-level review meeting at Bachat Bhawan on Friday, Arora confirmed that the Airports Authority of India (AAI), in collaboration with the district administration, was finalising preparations for the inauguration. He added that the terminal would be dedicated to the public on July 27, with Air India to announce flight commencement dates thereafter. An officer of the PWD department, which is executing the project work, told TOI that the process of handing over infrastructure developed under the Halwara International Airport project to AAI has already started. He added that some minor work suggested by the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, including construction of watch towers and raising the height of the boundary wall, would be completed days before the inauguration on July 27. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like If you have a mouse, play this game for 1 minute Navy Quest Undo An AAI official, asking not to be named, said that after the inauguration, it would take airlines at least a month to set up offices to start operations from Halwara Airport. He added that flight operations were expected to start by September. Residents, who have been waiting a long time for inauguration of the Halwara International Airport, are happy about the latest development. Dr Ravinder Vatsayayan, who lives near Rose Garden, said that he would buy a ticket for the inaugural flight from Halwara Airport as he had been waiting for a long time for it to start operations. The industry is also delighted by news of the scheduled inauguration of the Halwara Airport terminal building. Talking to TOI, Harsimerjit Singh, president, United Cycle Parts and Manufacturers Association (UCPMA), said that it came as great news not only for residents of Ludhiana but also for people living within a 100-kilometre radius of the district. He expressed gratitude to the Centre and state governments as well as minister Sanjeev Arora, for their efforts to get the airport functional. Students and professionals have also welcomed the announcement. Jaspreet Singh, a student, said that there should be flights to various major cities of the country instead of only Ludhiana and Delhi. Boost to business, tourism Architect Sanjay Goel, former director, Ludhiana Smart City Limited, welcomed the announcement. In a statement issued here on Friday, he said that the inauguration by the PM was a matter of pride for the state. Highlighting the city's key role in Punjab's economy, he noted that Ludhiana is home to some of the state's largest industrialists and entrepreneurs. "Enhanced air connectivity will help boost exports, attract investors, and also promote tourism, which in turn will contribute to the socio-economic development of the region," he concluded. How Halwara scores over Sahnewal Halwara airport has a longer runway and facility of landing of flights at low visibility due to advanced landing facility with an Instrument Landing System (ILS) Low visibility in the winter is a major cause of cancellation of flights at Sahnewal airport. Halwara airport will not face such issues As compared to the capacity of a 72-seater ATR flight in Sahnewal, Halwara airport can cater to a 172-seater Boeing flight. The airport building will have three terminals — international, domestic, and cargo MSID:: 122768054 413 |