The new terminal of Kolkata airport is likely to miss the October deadline for commercial operation.
Developed by Airports Authority of India, the modernised facility underwent its first trial run on July 15.
While operations were scheduled to kick off before the Durga Puja Festival beginning October 21, sources confirmed to Business Line that it would be delayed by at least by another two to three months.
“The AAI is yet to announce any official date for the operations to begin formally at the new terminal.
Pending work
A lot of work need to be completed starting from installation of aerobridges to preparing standard operating procedures (SOPs) for various destinations,” they said.
Declining to commit on a specific timeline, B P Sharma, regional airport director, said: “I am not sure whether the operations will begin before Durga Puja. AAI headquarters will take a call on this.”
According to sources, the entire IT system has to be installed and tested before commercial operations kick off.
Keywords: new terminal of Kolkata airport,
Comments:
If international investors shun Bengal, can you blame them ? Shoddy workmanship, filthy inadequate infrastructure, constant strikes - the list just goes on and on.
I would also not blame foreign airlines if they were to pull out citing the "pack of lies" regarding the terminal opening date that has been told by the AAI for the last several months (or should i say years ?).
If things don't change, fifty years from now, China will be an economic superpower, whilst India (particularly Bengal) will continue to be a poverty stricken backwater.
Sorry Nirvik, but shoddy workmanship is endemic throughout India and not to do with Bengal in particular. I was at Delhi airport a couple of years ago during a thunderstorm and half of the roof blew away.
Delhi is also the city that hosted the commonwealth games that ended up in a total fiasco.
And who cares if China overtakes India as an economic super-power? they don't even have democracy!
Delays aren't great but atleast things are moving forward- think about Heathrow Terminal 5 or the New Wembley stadium - they all experienced major delays.. as long as the quality is good a little delay should not be a problem.
I am a frequent flier and enjoying the gradual development of the new
terminal from the day when ground piling was started. Along with many
others, I am also eagerly waiting for my arrival and departure in
Kolkata through the new terminal. I do agree that poor work culture is
one of the causes of delay. But why blame West Bengal only? This is
true for almost whole of the country. New terminal of Chennai has also
missed several deadlines.
Please Nirvik, do not compare your own country with others. This under
estimation of ourselves is the main cause of downfall of our country.
Do not forget that in-spite of thousands of problems, ours is the
largest democracy in the world.
I would like to know whether the aerobridges have reached Kolkata from
Indonesia.
The Flyover in VIP Road, the work of which has started recently,
should be completed at the earliest so that the passengers do not face
traffic jam immediately after leaving the new world class airport
terminal.
Yes, it is so True that in spite of so many drawbacks and loopholes in our systems and administration we are the largest democracy in the world. The new terminal has come up very well, notwithstanding the missed deadlines and issues with aerobridges. Probably, we may not fly through the new terminal this Puja 12' but a new modern edifice is infront of us.
I wish a lot of infrastructure and urban road/expressway planning had gone into our city's landscape, while converging with the opening of the New Airport Terminal. Still as lot of urban planning and funding has to happen to give a true impetus to our cash starved state in the coming years. Here's hoping that the FDI is dealt with in a more balanced manner.
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