State of the art terminal at Gannavaram soon

Once the new terminal is completed, it can handle 500 to 700 air passengers a day

The Gannavaram Airport is in expansion mode. A new terminal with state-of-the-art facilities will come up at the airport to meet the increasing air traffic in the wake of State government’s decision to develop the Capital Region of Andhra Pradesh in its vicinity.

Airport authorities have already identified the site for construction of the new terminal which will be on par with international standards. Apron, escalators, baggage conveyors, metal detectors, aerobridges, extensive parking area and other modern amenities will also be created at the new terminal. Once the new terminal is completed, it can handle 500 to 700 air passengers a day.

Airport Director M Raja Kishore said, “We have not received any authorisation letter from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) headquarters in this regard as of now. But we are anticipating it soon. Once the works get started, the new terminal will be completed in six to eight months. At present, basic structural engineering process works are going on. Soil testing is under way. We will come up with a detailed report on it very soon.”

“The works of the new terminal and development of other facilities will be carried out simultaneously to save time. The land acquisition process for the project is still on. At present, the airport is handling seven flights a day,’’ he added. When contacted, local MP Kesineni Srinivas said, “The terminal which is on the cards now is a temporary one.

It will be inaugurated in another seven months to cater to the needs of about 350 passengers. A permanent terminal of international standards will be set up at the airport by 2019. After that, the temporary terminal will handle only cargo. The Gannavaram Airport will be the only one in Krishna district as there are no plans to set up another one.”

By:Ch Sowmya Sruthi