NEW DELHI, Dec 13: Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu on Thursday said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has planned to construct a new domestic terminal building at the Tezu airport in Lohit district for handling 200 peak-hour passengers.
Responding to an unstarred question from MP Ninong Ering in the Lok Sabha regarding the construction and expansion of old airports in the country, including those in Arunachal Pradesh, the union minister said construction of a Category 4 ATC tower-cum-technical block-cum-fire station and associated facilities at the Tezu airport are also planned.
Prabhu informed that extension of the airport’s runway by 128 mtrs and strengthening the existing runway, besides laying two new aprons for ATR 72 type of aircraft, along with a link taxiway, have been completed. The airport is ready to be made operational with an interim terminal building, the minister added.
Giving details of the infrastructure development of various airports in the country, Prabhu said, “The AAI has planned for infrastructure development at various airports, including 20 major airports, with a capex of Rs 25,000 crore in the next five years.
“However,” he said, “development, upgrading and expansion of an airport is a continuous process and is undertaken by the AAI from time to time, depending on the availability of land, commercial viability, socioeconomic considerations, traffic demand, and willingness of airlines to operate to and from such airports.”
Meanwhile, Ering has said he would approach the civil aviation ministry “to seek further action to expedite the airport projects in the state.”
