Ahmedabad Airport Domestic Building To Become International Terminal

The present Ahmedabad domestic arrival/departure terminal at Sardar Patel international airport, will be converted into an international terminal. The new Rs 291 crore building almost ready at Ahmedabad airport campus which is likely to be fully functional in August this year will be used as new domestic arrival/departure terminal.

Airport Authority of India(AAI)’s Joint General Manager Mr. Hota said this during FICCI-Gujarat Tourism conclave in Ahmedabad on Thursday.

Mr. Hota said the new building which was originally conceptualized as international terminal would be actually used as domestic airport once it goes fully functional in August this year. Existing domestic airport building would be converted into international terminal. Existing international terminal would be used for Hajj pilgrims and secondary traffic.

Answering questions by conclave participants, Mr. Hota said: “from mid July we will be commencing trial run of new building, and possibly in August first week, the city would witness inauguration function of new building, after which it would be fully functional.”

“At Ahmedabad, we get 75% domestic traffic and 25% international traffic. Thus it was needed to use a new big terminal for domestic purpose,” Hota added.

He also said that the Airport Authority of India will spend Rs 1500 crore in Gujarat in span of next five years. The AAI controls 11 airports in Gujarat.

Hota said Ahmedabad airport handles just 2% of all-India air cargo. Out of this, 83% is handled at Ahmedabad airport only. While 44% cargo is domestic, about 56% cargo is international at Ahmedbad airport. Gujarat’s ports handle 25% cargo of all-over the country, but when it comes to air-cargo, state’s share is just 2%. This shows good chance of moving ahead in this direction.

Gujarat Money (http://www.gujaratmoney.com/2010/06/25/ahmedabad-airport-domestic-building-to-become-internatioal-terminal/)