Kolkata airport to witness expansion

The Kolkata airport is set to witness an expansion of terminal 2 entailing an investment of Rs 1.3 billion for increasing the passenger handling capacity. Sections of the terminal have been sectioned off to carry out civil works. As part of the expansion, the capacity is targeted to be increased from 26 million passengers per annum (mppa) to 28 mppa, and the area would be increased by 5,600 sq m (3,000 sq m in the departure level and 2,600 sq m in the arrival level). The expansion would lead to increased space in the boarding or security hold areas and an increase in the number of departure gates. Further, the arrival and departure floors of the international wing would witness a change in the layout. The flight handling capacity is also likely to be increased to 45 flights an hour from 35 flights an hour. Civil works for the construction of a new taxiway and three new rapid exit taxiways have been completed. Further, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) also has plans for a two-phase capacity expansion involving the construction of a new terminal with an 11 mppa capacity and another terminal with a 22 mppa capacity. The overall capacity of the airport terminals once complete would stand at 61 mppa.