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Kolkata, Nov. 28 The Kolkata airport can be developed into a maintenance hub for over-flying aircraft destined for European and South Asian countries once the modernisation of the airport takes shape, Mr S.P.S. Bakshi, Executive Director (Project), Airports Authority of India (AAI), said here on Friday.

The arrangement can also generate additional revenue earnings for the State if such aircraft touch down at the Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose International Airport for refuelling and other maintenance services, he said.

Addressing a conference organised by the Bharat Chamber of Commerce, Mr Bakshi said, “Kolkata airport has a great potential to be developed as a maintenance hub for over-flying aircraft. Additional revenues can be generated even if 10 per cent of the 700 to 800 over-flying aircraft halt at the airport for refuelling and other services.” Other maintenance services could also include dismantling and reassembling of aircraft, he pointed out adding that such services would be facilitated if a third runway was built at the airport.

Despite delay in commencing the project, AAI is hopeful of sticking to its earlier target of 2010 for completion of the first phase of the modernisation work, Mr Bakshi said, adding that the Italian-Thai infrastructure development company ITD-ITD CEM appointed for the project had already begun mobilising equipment at the airport.

The project includes construction of a new 1,80,000 sq.m. integrated terminal building to accommodate 24 million passengers by 2010, up from over 4 million now, the extension of the secondary runway, construction of rapid exit taxiways and aprons, etc. The present international terminal may be used for handling non-scheduled aircraft in future, he said adding, “Helipad infrastructure may also be developed at the airport if helicopter service providers plan to cater to the satellite towns of Haldia, etc,” he said.

Traffic congestion on the road leading to the airport could be tackled effectively if the Centre agreed to extend the National Highway-34 and the North-South corridor till the airport, he added.

The cost of the project may go up by Rs 200-300 crore from the earlier projection of Rs 1,942 crore because of escalation of raw material costs by 7-8 per cent, Mr Bakshi, said, adding Rs 1,602 crore had already been allotted to the Italian-Thai company involved..

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