National Civil Aviation Sector

[Kunal Biswas]

Indian needs a lot of commercial aircraft and it would be logical if we produce something which is cheaper but have similar capabilities ..

It would have been due to the closeness between the two country or a better ToT deal ,there should have been a open competition.

 

[Bahamut]

Indian needs a lot of commercial aircraft and it would be logical if we produce something which is cheaper but have similar capabilities ..

It presently cannot happen right now.Look at how China does deal, the government encourages airliner to take the aircraft which has more Chinese components .

 

[Kunal Biswas]

To my knowledge we have everything to get it done, Its the will and foresight which is lacking, if we look into R&D ..

Though, My previous comment was about license production ..

It presently cannot happen right now.Look at how China does deal, the government encourages airliner to take the aircraft which has more Chinese components .

 

[gadeshi]

TV7-117ST engine has been chosen to power both Il-114-300 and Il-112V/T.
Aerial tests have began:
http://rt.vk34.ru/blog/post/news/dvigatel-dlya-il-114-gotovitsya-k-letnym-ispytaniyam
https://sdelanounas.ru/blogs/96736/

 

[Butter Chicken]

India’s First 19-seater aircraft may fly soon

A team of engineers is giving shape to what promises to be India’s first 19-seater indigenous passenger aircraft at a 3,000-sq feet terrace in Mumbai’s Borivili suburb, which has become a bustle of activity. Amol Yadav, a pilot with a private airline, is leading the initiative.

TAC 005, as the aircraft is called, will be ready for flight in the next four months, and is likely to give shape to India’s dream of a homegrown passenger aircraft.

Yadav said that he began work on the 19-seater aircraft to solve India’s regional connectivity issues. “In spite of having a number of private airlines, we are poor in regional connectivity. The smallest aircraft that private airlines in India have are 70-seaters, and they don’t find it cost-effective to fly them to smaller cities as they are never full.”


Yadav’s 19-seater aircraft is likely to change that situation by giving airlines and people an option of flying in a smaller plane. India hasn’t been able to build its own passenger aircraft even 70 years after independence. The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) had tried to build Saras, a 14-seater aircraft, but the plan had to be abandoned after the prototype crashed in 2009. NAL has recently revived the programme.

The structure of the twin-engine turbo prop built by Yadav — ET had exclusive access to the aircraft — is ready and will be powered by a Pratt & Whitney PP6A engine.

 

[aditya10r]

India’s First 19-seater aircraft may fly soon

A team of engineers is giving shape to what promises to be India’s first 19-seater indigenous passenger aircraft at a 3,000-sq feet terrace in Mumbai’s Borivili suburb, which has become a bustle of activity. Amol Yadav, a pilot with a private airline, is leading the initiative.

TAC 005, as the aircraft is called, will be ready for flight in the next four months, and is likely to give shape to India’s dream of a homegrown passenger aircraft.

Yadav said that he began work on the 19-seater aircraft to solve India’s regional connectivity issues. “In spite of having a number of private airlines, we are poor in regional connectivity. The smallest aircraft that private airlines in India have are 70-seaters, and they don’t find it cost-effective to fly them to smaller cities as they are never full.”


Yadav’s 19-seater aircraft is likely to change that situation by giving airlines and people an option of flying in a smaller plane. India hasn’t been able to build its own passenger aircraft even 70 years after independence. The National Aerospace Laboratories (NAL) had tried to build Saras, a 14-seater aircraft, but the plan had to be abandoned after the prototype crashed in 2009. NAL has recently revived the programme.

The structure of the twin-engine turbo prop built by Yadav — ET had exclusive access to the aircraft — is ready and will be powered by a Pratt & Whitney PP6A engine.

I have a dream,that air force gets its own indigenous an-32 replacement.

Thank god that RTA-70 have been restarted.

 

[Kshatriya87]

Aviation pioneer GR Gopinath makes comeback with Air Deccan, to start disruptive Re 1 tickets

Manu Kaushik New Delhi Last Updated: December 15, 2017 | 16:33 IST

After staying away from the action for almost three years, G.R. Gopinath, the pioneer of low-cost aviation in India, is making another comeback. His latest venture, Air Deccan, is all set to start operations soon with flights between Mumbai and Nashik. Air Deccan is one of the five airlines who had bid for the government subsidies under the first phase of the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme in April this year.

Air Deccan was awarded 34 routes by the aviation ministry under RCS (regional connectivity scheme), and it plans to operate 19-seater Beechcraft 1900D, a turboprop aircraft suited for short-haul flights. The airline plans to connect Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Shillong to regional towns in the vicinity of these cities. For instance, Kolkata will connect with places Jamshedpur, Rourkela, Durgapur, Bagdogra, Burnpur, and Cooch Behar.

Air Deccan was supposed to start services in September, as directed by the aviation ministry; but it has missed the deadline by a few months. The airline has been negotiating hard with the Delhi and Mumbai airports for landing and parking slots. Without having connectivity with metro airports, it's economically unviable to operate on regional routes.

It's not that Gopinath was completely missing from the aviation scene. He has been operating charter services Deccan Charters from Bangalore for over a decade. Gopinath also dabbled in air cargo and logistics businesses but none of his ventures were as audacious as the founder of Air Deccan, the first LCC (low-cost carrier) in the country.

Gopinath changed the aviation sector in India forever. The domination of full-service carriers (FSCs) such as Air India, Jet Airways and Air Sahara was broken with disruptive Re 1 fares by Air Deccan. The idea was to make flying affordable, and offer tickets comparable to train fares. The value-conscious fliers chose Air Deccan over other carriers as fare difference between FSCs and LCCs was huge. At one point, Air Deccan controlled over 20 per cent of the total market share.

Soon, his model was followed by start-up airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet. From nowhere in early 2000s, the share of LCCs today stands at 67.7 per cent. Globally, the aviation is a cyclical business. There are phases of booms and contractions. After a stellar beginning, Air Deccan's growth was impeded by several external factors, especially the rise in ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices. The airline registered losses, and was eventually sold to Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines which rebranded it as Kingfisher Red, the low-cost arm of the carrier.

Gopinath, a retired captain from the Indian Army, is ready for his next big bet. Air Deccan is going back to its old Re 1 "marketing trick" as it starts operations this month. Typically, the airlines reserve 3-5 per cent of their seats for such flash sales. Since the PLFs (passenger load factors) are never 100 per cent, the flash sales help in filling up empty seats without hurting the bottomline.

For Gopinath, the man who tried his hands in sericulture and hospitality before jumping into the aviation, life has come full circle. While there's not much disruption that he can possibly do this time, the high growth outlook of the passenger traffic gives hope to serial entrepreneurs like Gopinath to make it big if they can play their cards right.

 

[Armand2REP]

It presently cannot happen right now.Look at how China does deal, the government encourages airliner to take the aircraft which has more Chinese components .

The C919 is all foreign components, even the design was outsourced. The only thing they build is the frame which is the same workshare they get from the Airbus JV.

 

[Prashant12]

Advantage UDAN, as ‘civilian’ Dornier takes off


HAL-made 19-seater gets DGCA nod for operations

NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 22:


On Friday, a Dornier 228 aircraft, manufactured by Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, took off from Kanpur heading to Nashik. The first civilian aircraft to be produced and certified in India, this Dornier is now available for commerical sale and could end up giving a lift to the ‘Make in India’ programme as also the Centre’s regional connectivity scheme called UDAN for Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik.

Till date, state-owned HAL has only produced Dorniers for use by the military. However, with the Directorate-Geberal for Civil Aviation giving Dornier 228 a ‘type certification’, it can be used for operations by civilian airlines.

Confirming the development, a senior HAL official told BusinessLine that the ‘type certification’ was approved by the DGCA in the last few days.

Such a certification implies means that the DGCA approves the technical and performance specifications of the civilian Dornier aircraft produced by HAL.

“The certification means that the product complies with the various regulations of the aviation regulator and has been approved for operations with an Indian registration,” the official said.

The 19-seater aircraft can fly up to 700 km on full load and is capable of flying at night. This is a non-pressurised aircraft and is ideal for regional flights. It is a multi-purpose aircraft which can be used to ferry VVIPs, business people to their plants, and also be used as an air ambulance, said HAL officials.

Officials said the aircraft’s operational capability was better than its competitors such as the Twin Otter, M-28 and the LET 410. Also, it had the advantage of being fitted with a toilet.

With over a hundred Dornier aircraft already flying in the country, operators will not have to depend on foreign pilots to operate the civilian version.

The development of the aircraft had been delayed as the runway at the Kanpur airport, where the tests for certification were carried out, was undergoing re-carpeting. The runway became operational in the second week of December, after which HAL carried out three testflights before inviting the DGCA for conducting its type certification, the official said.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com...ivilian-dornier-takes-off/article10000625.ece

 

[sthf]

However, with the Directorate-Geberal for Civil Aviation giving Dornier 228 a ‘type certification’, it can be used for operations by civilian airlines.

Finally saner heads prevailed. Instead of flogging the dead horse which is Saras, Do 228 is the best bet to provide connectivity to the scores of Tier II and Tier III cities at competitive prices.

 

[Adioz]

Finally saner heads prevailed. Instead of flogging the dead horse which is Saras, Do 228 is the best bet to provide connectivity to the scores of Tier II and Tier III cities at competitive prices.

If we can go to RTA directly instead of Saras, it will be cool. But not sure if that would be advisable given the steep learning curve.

Aviation pioneer GR Gopinath makes comeback with Air Deccan, to start disruptive Re 1 tickets

Manu Kaushik New Delhi Last Updated: December 15, 2017 | 16:33 IST

After staying away from the action for almost three years, G.R. Gopinath, the pioneer of low-cost aviation in India, is making another comeback. His latest venture, Air Deccan, is all set to start operations soon with flights between Mumbai and Nashik. Air Deccan is one of the five airlines who had bid for the government subsidies under the first phase of the UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Naagrik) scheme in April this year.

Air Deccan was awarded 34 routes by the aviation ministry under RCS (regional connectivity scheme), and it plans to operate 19-seater Beechcraft 1900D, a turboprop aircraft suited for short-haul flights. The airline plans to connect Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Shillong to regional towns in the vicinity of these cities. For instance, Kolkata will connect with places Jamshedpur, Rourkela, Durgapur, Bagdogra, Burnpur, and Cooch Behar.

Air Deccan was supposed to start services in September, as directed by the aviation ministry; but it has missed the deadline by a few months. The airline has been negotiating hard with the Delhi and Mumbai airports for landing and parking slots. Without having connectivity with metro airports, it's economically unviable to operate on regional routes.

It's not that Gopinath was completely missing from the aviation scene. He has been operating charter services Deccan Charters from Bangalore for over a decade. Gopinath also dabbled in air cargo and logistics businesses but none of his ventures were as audacious as the founder of Air Deccan, the first LCC (low-cost carrier) in the country.

Gopinath changed the aviation sector in India forever. The domination of full-service carriers (FSCs) such as Air India, Jet Airways and Air Sahara was broken with disruptive Re 1 fares by Air Deccan. The idea was to make flying affordable, and offer tickets comparable to train fares. The value-conscious fliers chose Air Deccan over other carriers as fare difference between FSCs and LCCs was huge. At one point, Air Deccan controlled over 20 per cent of the total market share.

Soon, his model was followed by start-up airlines such as IndiGo and SpiceJet. From nowhere in early 2000s, the share of LCCs today stands at 67.7 per cent. Globally, the aviation is a cyclical business. There are phases of booms and contractions. After a stellar beginning, Air Deccan's growth was impeded by several external factors, especially the rise in ATF (aviation turbine fuel) prices. The airline registered losses, and was eventually sold to Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines which rebranded it as Kingfisher Red, the low-cost arm of the carrier.

Gopinath, a retired captain from the Indian Army, is ready for his next big bet. Air Deccan is going back to its old Re 1 "marketing trick" as it starts operations this month. Typically, the airlines reserve 3-5 per cent of their seats for such flash sales. Since the PLFs (passenger load factors) are never 100 per cent, the flash sales help in filling up empty seats without hurting the bottomline.

For Gopinath, the man who tried his hands in sericulture and hospitality before jumping into the aviation, life has come full circle. While there's not much disruption that he can possibly do this time, the high growth outlook of the passenger traffic gives hope to serial entrepreneurs like Gopinath to make it big if they can play their cards right.

Air Deccan takes wings again, flies to Jalgaon

 

[sthf]

If we can go to RTA directly instead of Saras, it will be cool. But not sure if that would be advisable given the steep learning curve.

Only way to do that is to disband NAL, most useless of the PSUs. Let, HAL and private sector handle the current and future civil aviation requirements.

 

[Prashant12]

Commercial flight nod for made-in-India plane


NEW DELHI: You may soon be flying regional routes on board a made-in-India aircraft. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has allowed Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL)-manufactured Dornier 228 to be used for civilian flights.
The 19-seater aircraft has, till now, been used by defence forces and is the first plane to be made in the country for commercial flights.

The DGCA has given type certification to this aircraft and also given certificate of airworthiness to HAL's Dornier 228. Now, HAL can sell this plane to airlines in India and it can be used by them for regional flights under the Modi's government's ambitious UDAN scheme, a senior aviation official said. "Some special incentives may be given to operators using this plane. Apart from airlines in India," the official added.

HAL likely to sell Dornier to Nepal and Sri Lanka

HAL may also look at selling this plane for civil use in neighbouring countries such as Nepal and Sri Lanka," the official said.

The HAL describes its 19-seater Dornier 228 as "highly versatile multi-purpose light transport aircraft. It has been developed specifically to meet the manifold requirements of utility and commuter transport, third level services and air-taxi operations, coast guard duties and maritime surveillance."

The non-pressurised plane has maximum cruise speed of 428 kmph and a range of 700 km. It is capable of night flying. HAL successfully carried out test flights of this plane at Kanpur airport this month after which DGCA gave the required nod for it to be used in civil side. HAL has a "transport aircraft division" in Kanpur since 1960. "(It) has core competence in manufacture, maintenance, modification and upgrade of light transport aircraft and trainer aircraft for both domestic and international markets.

The division also carries out maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft.... The division has also commenced manufacture of the civil variant of Dornier 228 aircraft," the HAL website says. While the DGCA has now allowed Dornier 228 to be used for commercial flights, HAL says it can also be used for "pollution prevention" and "executive transport".

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com...-made-in-india-plane/articleshow/62245953.cms

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.tribuneindia.com/news/na...t-over-900-planes-in-coming-years/519061.html

Posted at: Dec 26, 2017, 2:05 AM; last updated: Dec 26, 2017, 2:05 AM (IST)
Indian carriers to induct over 900 planes in coming years

Indian airlines are likely to induct more than 900 aircraft in the coming years, with IndiGo alone expected to add 448 planes, according to official data.

India is one of the fastest growing aviation markets in the world and most airlines have ambitious expansion plans, especially to tap the potential on regional routes.

As per data available with the Civil Aviation Ministry, budget airlines IndiGo, SpiceJet, GoAir and AirAsia are set to significantly expand their respective fleet sizes. Along with other carriers, the total number of aircraft to be inducted by the domestic players would be more than 900.

With an existing fleet of 150 planes, IndiGo is readying to add another 448 aircraft—399 A320s and 49 ATRs—in the next seven to eight years.

Competitor SpiceJet too is in the process of expanding its current fleet of 57 aircraft. The no-frills airline would be adding 107 B737-800s and 50 Bombardier Q400s during the 2018-23 period.

Another budget carrier GoAir, which is yet to take off on overseas routes, would induct 119 A320 planes during the period from 2018-2022. At present, its fleet size is 34.

According to the data, which was recently submitted to Parliament as part of a Lok Sabha written reply, AirAsia India would induct 60 planes in the next five years. Currently, the budget carrier has 14 aircraft.

Legacy carrier Jet Airways—which has 107 aircraft—would take 81 B737-8 MAX planes during 2018-24 period. It would also add five B737-800s this fiscal ending March 2018, as per the data. Disinvestment-bound Air India would induct three B777-300ER and 16 A320 planes between December this year and March 2019. The national carrier has 155 aircraft at present.

Among others, full service carrier Vistara would induct five aircraft next year that would expand its current fleet of 17 planes. TruJet, which now has four planes, would add six aircraft each year from 2018-22. Zoom Air has placed orders for five CRJ-200 and 14 CRJ-900 planes. At present, it has two planes. — PTI

 

[Hindustani78]

Cabinet approves exchanging of Airports Authority of India's land measuring 11.35 acres with equivalent land of Govt. of Bihar at Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport, Patna for expansion development purpose


The Union Cabinet chaired by the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi has given its approval to transfer 11.35 acres of land to Airports Authority of India (AAI) by way of exchanging equivalent land of AAI at Anisabad. The proposed land at Patna Airport will be used for expansion of the airport and construction of new terminal building along-with other associated infrastructures. The State Government has also agreed in principle for transfer of the land.

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Home Affairs
27-December, 2017 19:34 IST
Proposal to Take Over BCAS


Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has proposed transfer of Bureau of Civil Aviation Security from Ministry of Civil Aviation to Union Home Ministry for better coordination of all the security agencies engaged in Civil Aviation Security.

Issues relating to strengthening of Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) such as manpower, training and availability of equipment at various airports is reviewed on a continuous basis and action taken wherever required, by all the stakeholders such as Ministry of Home Affairs, Ministry of Civil Aviation, Bureau of Civil Aviation Security and Airport Operators.

This was stated by the Minister of State for Home Affairs, Shri Hansraj Gangaram Ahir in a written reply to question in the Rajya Sabha today.

****

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...says-centre/story-BsCNabMIuOJtsfVdrwoMCP.html

The total outstanding loans of Air India as on September 30, 2017 stand at Rs 51,890 crore.

Updated: Dec 28, 2017 19:31 IST
Press Trust of India, New Delhi

To revive the loss-making national carrier, the government is working on the modalities for its strategic disinvestment. (File)

There is no proposal to reconsider the decision to privatise Air India, which has an outstanding debt of Rs 51,890 crore, the government informed Parliament on Thursday.

• 
  To revive the loss-making national carrier, the government is working on the modalities for its strategic disinvestment.
  
  To a question in the Lok Sabha on whether the government proposes to reconsider its decision to sell out the debt- ridden Air India and its auxiliary companies, minister of state for civil aviation Jayant Sinha replied in the negative.
  
  The total outstanding loans of Air India as on September 30, 2017 stand at Rs 51,890 crore as per provisional figures cited by Sinha. Of this, aircraft loans account for Rs 18,364 crore and working capital loans are at Rs 33,526 crore.
  
  In 2016-17, the airline had a net loss of Rs 3,643 crore, while operating profit rose to Rs 215 crore, the provisional figures showed.
  
  The government also informed Parliament that there had been a ban on direct recruitment in Air India for non- operational categories of employees and that the total number of regular employees of Air India as on November, 2017, is approximately 14,006 down from approximately 32,600 at the time of its merger in August 2007.
  
  On June 28 this year, the Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) gave its in-principle approval for strategic disinvestment of Air India and its five subsidiaries.
  
  An Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism, headed by finance minister Arun Jaitley, is working on the modalities.
  

 

[Hindustani78]

http://www.hindustantimes.com/india...b777-planes/story-lWfRcWLvnWF3QlJr4tFJJP.html

Two of the aircraft will be used for ferrying VVIPs, Union minister Jayant Singh told the Lok Sabha.

india Updated: Jan 04, 2018 19:51 IST
Press Trust of India, New Delhi

The delivery of the three B777-300 ER planes is scheduled to be completed next month - two in January and one in February. (File)

• State-owned Air India has tied up with UAE-based First Abu Dhabi Bank as well as Standard Chartered Bank and Mashreq Bank to avail short-term loans for acquiring three Boeing 777 aircraft, Union minister Jayant Singh said on Thursday.
  
  Two of the aircraft are to be used for ferrying VVIPs, the minister of state for civil aviation said in a written reply in the Lok Sabha.
  
  The delivery of the three B777-300 ER planes is scheduled to be completed next month -- two in January and one in February.
  
  “Air India has signed a short-term buyers credit facility agreement with First Abu Dhabi Bank PJSC jointly with Standard Chartered Bank and Mashreq Bank PSC for acquisition of three B777-300ER aircraft,” the minister said.
  
  In early November, the disinvestment-bound airline issued a revised tender (after first floating it in October), soliciting interest from lenders for a loan worth up to $535 million (around Rs 3,460 crore).
  
  Last month, the airline also floated tenders for securing loans worth over Rs 1,100 crore for modification of two Boeing aircraft for ferrying VVIPs -- the president, vice-president and prime minister.
  
  In 2006, Air India placed orders with Boeing for 68 aircraft -- 27 Dreamliners, 15 B777-300 ERs, eight B777-200 LRs and 18 B737-800s.
  
  Of these, the state-run carrier has already taken the delivery of 65 planes, including 12 B777-300ERs.
  
  Following the downturn in the global aviation sector, the delivery of three B777-300ERs was postponed in 2010 as there was no “cancellation” clause in the original purchase agreement with Boeing Company.
  
  Then, in September 2015, the carrier decided to take delivery of the remaining three planes as per the 2006 purchase agreement.
  

 

[Hindustani78]

Ministry of Civil Aviation
6 -January, 2018 08:33IST
Civil Aviation Ministry welcomes Parliamentary Committee's Report on issues related to improving consumer satisfaction of airlines

Proposes to issue easy to understand Air Passenger Bill of Rights
Ministry of Civil Aviation welcomes the Department-related Parliamentary Standing Committee on Transport, Tourism & Culture’s 256th Report on “Issues Related to Improving Consumers’ Satisfaction of Airlines”. The Committee’s report has highlighted, among other matters, consumer service issues and the matter of higher prices for last minute travel purchases.

The Ministry and the entire aviation ecosystem have been working pro-actively to offer passengers the highest levels of service and address consumer grievances. The Ministry partnered with all key stakeholders to establish the innovative AirSewa platform and other modes of offering assistance to passengers. It is heartening to note that of the around 12 crore passengers that have flown domestically in calendar year 2017, we have received less than 10,000 complaints overall. On many other consumer service issues like fog-related SOPs, the Ministry and the industry have been working proactively. The Ministry also proposes to issue an explicit and easy-to-understand Air Passenger Bill of Rights. We will be undertaking extensive public consultations to finalize the same.

With the repeal of Air Corporation Act in March, 1994 the provision of tariff approval was dispensed with by the Government. Under the prevailing regulations (sub-rule (1) of Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937), every air transport undertaking engaged in scheduled air services are required to establish tariff having regard to all relevant factors, including the cost of operation, characteristics of services, reasonable profit and the generally prevailing tariff. The fares so established, are required to be displayed by the airlines on their websites in compliance of sub-rule (2) of Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. Airlines remain compliant to the regulations as long as the fare charged by them does not exceeds the fare structure displayed on their website. Any instance of predatory tariffs can be brought to the attention of the Director General of Civil Aviation so that action can be taken under sub-rule (4) of Rule 135 of the Aircraft Rules, 1937. Anti-competitive practices are also within the purview and regulation of the Competition Commission of India.

Pricing deregulation has allowed competition to bring down prices dramatically in India, making it one of the lowest-fare markets in the world. Indian airlines follow globally accepted dynamic pricing practices. Please note that only between 1% and 2% of tickets are transacted at the highest fare basket. A capping of fares could raise prices for the 98-99% of the passengers. The government is cognizant of emergencies or natural calamities, which cause a sudden surge in aviation demand. In such cases, the Ministry works with airlines to create more supply by re-routing aircraft to the affected areas and ensuring stable prices.

****

 

[Hindustani78]

CHENNAI, January 10, 2018 01:06 IST
Updated: January 10, 2018 08:29 IST

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities...ect-to-satellite-terminal/article22407726.ece

Airports Authority of India to rope in Metro Rail to carry out tunnelling work

With a tunnel underneath to transport passengers and baggage, the Chennai airport is likely to have a satellite terminal soon to cater to the growing passenger traffic. For this, the Chennai Metro Rail has been roped in to see how tunnelling can be carried out in the apron area of the airport.

This project is likely to cost around ₹700 crore.

Officials said the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had held discussions with Metro Rail officials recently in this regard.

“The tunnel will be at a depth of 10.5 feet and for a distance of 1.5 km from the main terminals to the satellite terminal, which will be located near the remote parking bays. There will be two tunnels running underneath, one for passengers and another for baggage,” an official said.

The primary reason for a satellite terminal was the greenfield second airport getting delayed, sources said. Once the new terminals, to be built as part of phase II modernisation project, get saturated this will help in managing the growing passenger traffic till the second airport is built, sources added.

Also, most airlines prefer the main parking slot for their aircraft since it is convenient, due to which the remote bays mostly remain unused, officials said.

“When this plan is executed, airlines will begin to use those remote bays as well,” he added.

₹500 crore estimate

Chennai Metro Rail has given an estimate of ₹500 crore for tunnelling work alone, sources said.

According to officials of Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL), they will need to know what runs underneath the airside before they begin to carry out the tunnelling work.

“It will be challenging to carry out this work and we will need to know the flight schedule on a day-to-day basis to plan the work,” he added.

******