Airport’s new international terminal may get more approach roads

Airports Authority of India (AAI) has cleared the architectural designs and building maps of the terminal. Chandigarh,Punjab and Haryana have a stake in the airport.

Another option being mulled is having access to the terminal from within the airport by construction of an underpass. An official of the Administration said that the main aim is that residents should be able to access the airport easily.

“Various options are being looked at. It is desired by both the states and the Administration that the residents should not be inconvenienced. Having more than one approach road from Chandigarh as well as Haryana would ensure that there is no congestion. The residents should have easy access,” said the official.

Passenger traffic at the airport has increased over the years. While in 1998 around 50,000 passengers used the airport,the number is at present around 5 lakh. This is likely to increase further in the coming years once the construction of the International terminal is completed.

According to estimates,once the first phase is completed,the proposed airport will be able to handle 1,250 passengers an hour. After the second phase,the number would increase to 2,500,then further to 3,750 in the third phase and around 5,000 after the fourth phase.