Bhubaneswar: With a view to handling more operations in the future, the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), has decided to construct a taxiway at the city airport in the next two years.
This decision comes at a time when an unofficial survey by aviation experts has listed BPIA among the top 20 busiest airports in the country. Ranked 14th in the list, the Airports Authority of India (AAI), has also indicated its plan for expansion of the existing airport with more facilities.
In fact, the BPIA recorded 27 per cent growth in passenger traffic in 2015-2016 and is also handling international operations. But, the absence of a taxiway has turned out to be a major drawback to the most important airport in the state for handling more operations. This has compelled the authorities to construct a taxiway.
Top officials are expecting this project – to cost more than `100 crore – to be completed with the next two years. “At present, things are in the initial stage and the work has not been awarded. However, we expect the project to be completed within one and half years,” said SC Hota, director, BPIA.
However, the slums near the airport have to be cleared for the project and officials have informed this to Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC). “Our officials have already informed BMC about the issue. We are expecting that BMC would clear the slums by December this year,” added Hota.
With BPIA already handling daily international operations, the taxiway will be an added advantage to the airport. “The taxiway will reduce the runway occupancy time by an aircraft and we can handle more operations in the future,” Hota added.
Jose K Joseph, OP
