Tuticorin Airport Upgradation Expected to Be Completed by December.

Tuticorin Airport in Tamil Nadu is undergoing a major upgradation project aimed at accommodating increased passenger traffic and enhancing services. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is investing ₹381 crore in this development, which includes extending the runway to support A-321 type aircraft, constructing a new terminal building, an apron, a technical block with a control tower, and a new fire station.

The new terminal building, covering 17,500 square meters, will be capable of handling 1,440 passengers during peak hours and 20 lakh passengers annually. It will feature modern amenities, including three aerobridges, and will be a four-star GRIHA-rated energy-efficient structure with sustainability features. The runway extension will increase its length from 1,350 meters to 3,115 meters, facilitating the operation of larger aircraft.

Additional improvements include a new ATC tower, an extension of the apron to accommodate five Airbus-321 aircraft, an isolation bay, a link taxi track, and a parallel taxi track.

Currently, Tuticorin Airport connects to Chennai and Bengaluru with six daily flights and serves 156 passengers during peak hours, with a capacity of three lakh passengers annually. The upgraded facilities are expected to bolster trade, tourism, and overall connectivity in Tuticorin and surrounding districts such as Tirunelveli, Tenkasi, Kanyakumari, Nagercoil, and Virudhunagar.

AAI Chairman M Suresh recently visited the site to review the progress, and the project is slated for completion by December 2024.

ET