Chennai airport is to get a new look with the Airports Authority of India planning to spend close to ₹1,000 crore on its revamp.

With the government finally deciding that it will be AAI and not the private sector which will be involved in the development of Chennai airport, the Authority has decided to work towards make travel through the airport seamless for both domestic and international passengers.

The latest idea is to integrate not only the domestic and international parts of the terminal but also to provide connectivity with the metro rail project.

“The problem in Chennai has been that AAI was able to complete only phase one of the two-phase project for modernising the airport before the government decided to rope in the private sector for the job.

“But now there is a change in thinking in the government, and the AAI will complete the project of creating a seamless travel experience for Chennai airport users,” said a senior AAI official who did not want to be identified.

AAI will appoint a project consultant for completing the modernisation of Chennai airport. At present, the focus is on getting the funds required for modernising the airport from internal resources, the official said.

AAI has already pumped in over ₹2,000 crore into Chennai airport. The state-owned airport operator has also appointed RITES to undertake a study on Lucknow, Tirupathi and Raipur airports to see how the land on the city side of these airports can be better utilised.

“We could look at better vehicle parking facilities or setting up aviation-related infrastructure,” the official said.

Meanwhile, plans are also afoot to spend close to ₹400 crore for setting up an Air Traffic Control tower at Kolkata airport.

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