Thiruvananthapuram airport to undergo development to accommodate one crore passengers

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Thiruvananthapuram airport will be developed to accommodate one crore annual passengers. For this, the Adani Group has assigned a multinational company to prepare the masterplan. Currently, the terminal can accomodate only 32 lakhs passengers.

More facilities will be provided for leisure, entertainment and shopping. New air traffic control will be set up near the entrance of the international terminal.

Runway will be renovated akin to developed countries. Such runways is guaranteed not to have cracks for 15 years. The runway at Thiruvananthapuram is 3373 metres long and 150 feet wide.

A 240-room, 660-person catering five-star hotel will also be built in front of the international terminal. Passengers and airline employees will be accommodated in the airport premises when flight services are disrupted or delayed.

The airport will have services from airliners like Akasha Airlines. Air India's service to Bengaluru will start from Monday. Thiruvananthapuram airport have more domestic travelers.

After the expansion of the international terminal, the domestic services at Shangumugam will be shifted there. The domestic terminal will be demolished in 2027.

Development of Rs 2000 crores in three years

1. Development of Rs 2000 crores will be implemented in three years. Rs 1200 crore worth of projects including terminal expansion, new air traffic control tower and runway re-carpeting have been approved by the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA).

2. The departure and arrival terminals will be on two floors. Check-in counters, immigration-customs-shopping area will be spacious. The lounges will be enlarged. Multi-level car parking will also come up.

3. Long waits for customs and immigration clearance can be avoided.

50 lakhs passengers are expected this year.

44 lakhs passengers: From April 2023 to March 2024

34 lakhs passengers: From April 2022 to March 2023

4.44 lakh: Passengers for the month of May 2024

29,778: Airline services last year