Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Dec 12: Following clearance of the Defence Ministry, the much awaited work on the expansion of Jammu Airport has finally taken off.
According to official sources, several existing structures like Cargo complex, CRPF pickets, residential quarters and parking lots are being razed in the initial phase for the expansion and work in this regard is in progress.
The demolition work will be soon followed by extension of the runway and raising of structures including terminal building from three sides doubling its total Pax capacity from the existing one, sources added.
Besides increasing passenger capacity of the terminal from 360 to 720 with modern facilities like escalators, the expansion project for Jammu Airport includes shopping facilities at arrival and departure, sewage treatment plant, water treatment plan and rainwater harvesting etc in the complex, sources explained.
September 2015 is the stipulated date of completion of this Rs 75 crore expansion project, the work for which has been awarded to M/s Kapahi Construction Company Jammu.
Pertinent to mention here that the expansion work of Jammu airport was long overdue. Despite completion of all the required formalities by the State Government, like transferring 138 kanals of forest land to the Army at Sunjwan in exchange of the land under its occupation adjoining the airport and release of Rs 7 crore as compensation for the utilities, which were to be razed, the Army authorities were delaying the formal go ahead to Airport Authority of India for the expansion.
The Ministry of Defence granted formal permission for the expansion of Jammu Airport recently after the Chief Minister Omar Abdullah personally took up the matter with the Union Government thus paving way for commencement of work on the project.
Besides spreading out of the runway to make it proper for landing and taking off for all types of aircraft, the expansion project includes modification of Terminal building, which will be expended from three sides for approximate area of 6500 sq meter increasing total area of the Terminal Building to 14500 sq meter with raised Pax capacity from 360 to 720, sources elaborated.
It will be framed structure consisting of steel coloumns with beams resting on RCC foundation and intermittent slab of Metal Deck and RCC while roofing will be of double skin Insulated profile sheeting system. Air and city side façade of the new Terminal building will be mix of structural laminated glass glazing and ACP. Facilities after modification includes two escalators, two lifts, increase in Check-in counter and X-BIS.
For the expansion, the Government has already accorded sanction to the transfer of Irrigation and Flood Control Department land measuring 58 kanals and 8 marlas on the left side of main Ranbir canal at RD 26465M in village Rakh Raipur for the rehabilitation purpose.
Follow our WhatsApp channel