Airports Authority of India Starts Work on Surat Airport

AAI Starts Work on Surat Airport 
Business Standard, India

Published : February 16, 2004 


The Airports Authority of India (AAI) on Saturday
began the much-awaited work on the Surat Airport. 

Union finance minister Jaswant Singh had on September
30 laid the foundation stone for the airport, which is
expected to contribute to the overall development of
the textile and diamond city. 

Union rural development minister and member of
parliament from Surat Kashiram Rana formally
inaugurated the works. 

The AAI is developing the airport at a cost of Rs 35
crore. 

“With Surat all set to get a full-fledged airport, the
course of development of Surat and the entire region
will change and the region will emerge as the most
important economic point in the country,” Rana said,
inaugurating the works. 

“This will not be just an airport, but an important
milestone in the development of Surat,” he said. 

He said Surat has the potential to provide a viable
alternative to the overburdened Mumbai city. 

“The need of the hour is fast implementation and
completion of the Surat airport project. Any delay
would affect the development of the region,” he said. 

He also lauded the role played by the Gujarat
government in adopting a “visionary approach” and
acquiring the land for the development of the airport.


For providing landing services to big aircraft, the
runway has to be extended by 1,500 metres. 

“The Surat airport can also reduce a lot of burden on
the Mumbai airport at least on the cargo front in the
initial phase,” he said. 

More funds, if required for this, could be made
available with the citizens of Surat chipping in, he
said. 

Rana said in the past five years, four-lane highways
of a total length of 24,000 kms had been completed.
Eleven kms of new roads are being added everyday, he
said. 

Rajya Sabha member from Surat Savita Sharda said Surat
should get an international airport and not just a
domestic airport. 

“The work should be completed in a time-bound manner
and the tenders floated for this should have a penalty
clause for any delay,” she said. 

Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry
(SGCCI) president Ashok Shah also spoke. While the
first phase of the work has already been completed by
the Gujarat government, the AAI, which has taken over
the airport, will start with Phase Two. 

“Under Phase II, the development of Surat Airport is
being undertaken by the AAI at an estimated cost of Rs
35 crore,” AAI western region director S S R Rao said.
The work would be completed within 18 months. 

A memorandum of understanding had been signed between
the Gujarat government and the AAI for the Surat
airport on September 30 at the global investors’
summit. 

After the MoU was signed, the Gujarat government
transferred 312 acres of land to the AAI along with an
additional 500 acres acquired around the airport for
lengthening of the runway. 

Under Phase II, work will be undertaken for
strengthening and extension of the runway and
construction of a new terminal building with modern
facilities and passenger amenities for accommodating
150 passengers at a time and a car park. 

At present, only up to 30 passengers can be
accommodated by the Surat Airport. It is also proposed
to construct a new fire station and new control tower.
The runway will be equipped with night-landing
facilities. 

The work will also include installation of modern
navigation facilities. In Phase III, upgradation of
the airport to handle large aircraft will be taken up
with private sector participation. The Gujarat
government had undertaken the development of the
airport in phases. 

Under Phase-I, the runway has been extended to 4,600
feet and a link taxiway and apron have been
constructed. At present the airport is suitable for
operation of 50-seater class of aircraft. 

Vayudoot and Gujarat Airways had been operating
through Surat Airport and both discontinued their
flights since May 1994 and January 2000, respectively.


Till date the Surat Airport belonged to the Gujarat
Government. At present, there is no regular scheduled
aircraft operations from the airport. 

The AAI was providing air traffic Services, rescue and
safety services and communication and navigational
facilities. 

Reliance vice president Hemant Desai, Olpaad MLA
Dhansukh Patel, district development officer Murli
Krishnan, district rural development agency director
Bhaskar Dave, AAI general manager (airports) D K Vij
and general manager (engineering) J S Dhiman were also
present. 


 Do you have an opinion about this story?
Share it with other readers in our CAA Discussion Forums

http://www.californiaaviation.org/dc/dcboard.php

*****************************************