New airport to be built in 4 phases

According to the design of the airport,it will have a modular green building with a capacity of 1,500 passengers during peak hour. In addition to a cargo terminal,the airport will have three terminals. A metro station,shopping malls and restaurants will be part of the airport.

A presentation in this regard was made on Tuesday by the architect engaged by the AAI in Delhi. Board members of the joint venture company (JVC),which will oversee the construction of the airport,were present.

The JVC,Chandigarh International Airport Ltd,is likely to approve the plan with some modifications in its next meeting — some suggestions were made by the members on Tuesday.

According to the draft plan,the airport structure will be a ‘green building’ with solar lighting and other energy conservation devices.

Each of the three terminal buildings will have two floors. Departures will be from the upper level and arrivals at the ground level.

In the first phase,one terminal will be constructed. It is estimated that annually 15 lakh passengers will use the airport till 2013. At present,six lakh passengers use the Chandigarh Airport every year,according to an AAI survey.

After completion of the first phase,the airport will be able to accommodate 26 aircraft and the building will have four aerobridges.

Also,there will be car parking for 700 vehicles — two parking lots of 350 vehicles each opposite the main building.

The airport will have three entrances — from Mohali,Zirakpur and Chandigarh. Also,a metro station has been proposed at the airport.

“This airport will be integrated with the master plan of Mohali. At present,the entrance from Mohali in the draft plan does not match with the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority plan,” a senior GMADA official said.

Sources said according to the draft plan,a new Air Traffic Control (ATC) building will also come up at the airport.