Karaikal Airport

Karaikal Airport
காரைக்கால் விமான நிலையம்
Summary
Airport type Privately owned for Public use
Operator Karaikal Airport Private Limited
Location Karaikal, Puducherry, India
Coordinates 10°58′43″N 79°47′53″E / 10.97861°N 79.79806°E / 10.97861; 79.79806Coordinates: 10°58′43″N 79°47′53″E / 10.97861°N 79.79806°E / 10.97861; 79.79806
Map
Karaikal Airport
Location of airport in India
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
09/27 4,000 1,250

Karaikal Airport is a greenfield airport under construction at Karaikal, in the Union territory of Puducherry, India. It was touted to become the first airport in the country to be built entirely with private capital.[1] However, execution of the project has been delayed due to paucity of funds.[2] Construction work is expected to be completed before June 2018.[3]

The project, proposed with 100% private ownership for public use, received in-principle clearance from the Ministry of Civil Aviation in February 2011. Construction work was scheduled to commence in May 2013.[4] Karaikal's Air Traffic Control, however, will be operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).[5]

The Airport, spread across 562 acres, is being developed by Karaikal Airport Private Limited, a subsidiary of Super Airport Infrastructure Private Limited. The first phase of construction initially envisaged the construction of an 1800-metre runway and a terminal building capable of handling 250 passengers during peak hours at an expense of Rupees 60 crore. The airport was expected to handle airliners like the Boeing 737.[4] However, due to delays in land acquisition, the first phase will now have a 1250 metre long runway, suitable for the operation of 30 seater aircraft.[3] The company plans to expand the airport after five years, extending the runway to 2600 metres and increasing terminal building capacity to 500 passengers per hour. A further expansion is planned ten years down the line with a 3500-metre runway and a passenger capacity of 1,000 per hour.[6]

Besides serving Karaikal, the Airport will bring air connectivity to the various pilgrim centres including Thirunallar, Velankanni, Nagore and various temple towns including Kumbakonam, Mayiladuthurai, Thirumanancheri, Thirukadayur and Point calimere (Kodikkarai) as well as the historic sites of Tarangambadi(also known as Tranquebar), Poompuhar and Vedaranyam (Thirumaraikkadu).

References

  1. ↑ "Coimbatore firm to build India's first private airport in Karaikal". Times of India. 13 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  2. ↑ "Fund Crunch Hits Karaikal Greenfield Airport Project". The New Indian Express. 27 October 2014. Retrieved 29 December 2014.
  3. 1 2 "Private airport at Karaikal to be ready by next June". The Hindu Business Line. 19 July 2017. Retrieved 30 July 2017.
  4. 1 2 "SAIIPL to commence work on pvt greenfield airport in May". The Economic Times. 30 March 2013. Retrieved 30 March 2013.
  5. ↑ "'Merchant airport' at Karaikal given clearance". CAPA Centre for Aviation. 9 March 2011. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
  6. ↑ "Karaikal may get private airport in two years". IBN Live. 14 March 2012. Retrieved 3 July 2012.
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