the goan I network
VASCO
Airports Authority of India Director BCH Negi has said that the passenger growth was quite disappointing as there was only approx 7% overall growth in passenger traffic as compared to last financial year when it was around 25%. He further informed that the this was a grave concern and AAI was working to bring more airlines to start operations at Goa airport. He also said that Goa airport is marketed by AAI Team from Corporate Headquarters at international forums like World Routes Conference every year by projecting Goa’s Tourism potential to various Countries/ Airlines to start more international operations at Goa airport.
Speaking more about the development, Negi said AAI will continue with its commitment to provide more passenger facilities at par with those available at other international airports for the benefit and convenience of tourists/passengers travelling through Goa’s only airport. “As part of this commitment AAI Management is spending almost 16 crores on carrying out modifications in the existing terminal building to address the existing shortcomings and constraints. These modifications are going to be a big challenge for AAI team at Goa as we have to carry out work in a terminal building where passenger movement has to be accommodated together with the modification works. This is in addition to approx Rs 186 crore being spent on the on going Parallel Taxiway work. In addition to parallel Taxiway, AAI Management has decided to construct three additional aircraft parking bays and complete this task by October so that in the Winter Schedule which commences in October, we will have more parking bays and Goa Airport is able to accommodate more aircraft. The critical part of parallel Taxiway which will connect the runway beginning with Apron, where aircrafts are parked, will be completed and put into operation by June 2018. This will significantly improve aircraft handling capacity and reduce flight delays on ground and in the air by avoiding holding on ground/air and the resulting un-necessary fuel burn,” said Negi.
“AAI has already floated tenders for appointment of Project Management Consultant for extension of existing Terminal Building to add another 2 million annual passenger handling capacity at a cost of approx Rs 250 crores. The three additional parking bays will be constructed at a cost of approx 12 crore. The extension of existing Terminal Building and additional parking bays will be done along with the on going demolition of Old Terminal Building work.
AAI has already placed orders for In Line X-ray Baggage system for Goa which is likely to be delivered in May-June this year. We hope to put this system into operation by the end of this year. This will do away with the registered baggage scanning by stand alone X-ray Machines and passengers can directly go to airline counters to check in their baggage.
We have already installed five Self Check in Kiosks and 10 more are likely to be delivered within one month. This will help passengers with only hand baggage to get their boarding cards and straight away go to security check without waiting at airline check in counters. Within few months approx 100 more CISF personal will be deployed at Goa Airport to further reduce to waiting time in queues at Entry Gates and during security check,” added Negi.
With all these passenger friendly initiatives, AAI will transform Goa Airport as promised despite the challenges and constraints that exist, he said.
