AAI goes for expansion

State-run Airports Authority of India (AAI) will invest up to Rs 1,400 crore in further expansion of Chennai Airport and setting up an ATC tower at Kolkata Airport. This comes after the government dropped its privatisation plans. Besides, the national airport operator plans to develop the city side of Lucknow, Raipur and Tirupati airports to shore up additional revenue and curtail operational losses of these airports, according to a senior AAI official.
´We are integrating domestic and international terminals at Chennai airport for facilitating passengers easy access as part of the second phase of expansion plans. We are in the process of appointing a project management consultant. The entire work will require an investment of around Rs 1,000 crore,´ the official said. AAI has also drawn up a plan to set up a new ATC (Air Traffic Tower) at Kolkata airport at an investment of Rs 300-400 crore, the official said.