The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has decided to procure 198 body scanners for 63 airports, which will replace existing door frame metal detectors and hand-held scanners. The process to procure the body scanners started earlier this year before the outbreak of the coronavirus.

The Airports Authority of India is likely to invite bids for privatisation of six more airports by August-September and complete the entire process by early next year. The second phase of privatisation is expected to include the airports of Varanasi, Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, Trichy, Raipur and Indore.

Work on the international airport coming up at Halwara in Punjab will commence by mid-July. The 161.27 acres of land required for the civil terminal has already been acquired. The runway will be completed on a priority basis along with the terminal building so that international flights can start operating soon.

The Airports Authority of India is likely to invite bids for privatisation of six more airports by August-September and complete the entire process by early next year. The second phase of privatisation is expected to include the airports of Varanasi, Amritsar, Bhubaneswar, Trichy, Raipur and Indore.

The project to construct the well-equipped airport at Sogane in Shivamogga taluk at the cost of Rs 220 crore in about 662.38 acre land area has been initiated and the project will be taken up in two phases. The first phase consists of runway, taxiway, apron, approach road, peripheral road and compound wall construction, while the second phase consists of terminal building, ATC tower, fire station building, among others.

AAI has floated tender inviting bids for the installation of 8 MW ground-mounted, grid-connected, photovoltaic (PV) solar plant at Hubballi Airport. The scope of work includes designing, supply, installation, etc of a ground-mounted, grid-connected solar PV power plant of 8 MW at Hubballi Airport.

The civil enclave at Darbhanga airport would be ready by October 2020, following which commercial flights to Mumbai, New Delhi and Bangalore will start under the Centre’s UDAN scheme. The Indian Air Force is responsible for re-carpeting of the airstrip, while the Airports Authority of India is looking after the construction work.

Nearly 51 per cent work on cargo complex, technical block, fire station, air traffic control tower and multi-level car parking has been completed so far. The two-storey new terminal building will have the departure lounge on the first floor and arrival area on the ground floor. The project is targeted to be completed by October 2022.

AAI is ready with a development plan of the Ludhiana International Airport and the construction work will kick off soon. The project us a joint venture with the majority stake of 51 per cent with the AAI and 49 per cent with the Punjab government thorough the Greater Ludhiana Development Authority (GLADA), which has taken possession of 161.27 acre land at Halwara for the project.