Indian cities opting for second airports: CAPA report

Mumbai: Construction of a second airport in the same city has become a major trend in India, with four cities, besides Mumbai and Delhi, gearing up for an additional airport, says a report from the Centre for Asia Pacific Aviation (CAPA). Such work is now scheduled for commencement in another four cities - Chennai, Ahmedabad, Kolkata and at Mopa (Goa).

While Bangalore and Hyderabad are scheduled to open new greenfield facilities in the first quarter of next financial year, intended to replace existing airports, Delhi and Mumbai are set to build second airports. Such requirements would have been inconceivable a decade back, says the consultancy, but thanks to a forecast of a rapid growth in number of passengers and in the number of airlines it has now become a reality.

"India's capacity-stretched airports are failing to keep pace with surging growth driven by low-cost carriers in the country," the consultancy's June newsletter says. The rapid growth in traffic is already placing significant pressure on airport infrastructure in terms of runway\terminal capacity and quality.

Many of India's current facilities are already operating well over capacity limits, according to CAPA.

The main reason for the construction of additional airports in cities, as opposed to simply expanding current facilities, is the scarcity of land, CAPA says.

According to the newsletter, India is expected to boast world-class airport infrastructure by 2009-10, not only in the six major metropolitan cities, including Delhi and Mumbai, but also in several of the 35 non-metropolitan cities slated for upgrades, thanks to investment channelised into the sector.