Airports

Dec 12th, 2020 The aviation business of the new joint venture of Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) and BP has now taken over refueling operations at 30 airports across India. These locations had previously been operated by RIL alone. RIL and BP announced the start of their new Indian fuels and mobility joint venture, Reliance BP Mobility Limited (RBML), which operates under the Jio-BP brand, in July 2020. BP and RIL expect the venture to grow rapidly to help meet India’s fast-growing demands for energy and mobility, including for aviation fuel. The international aviation fuel products and services supplier, Air BP has added 11 new locations in India to its international network as part of the joint venture between parent company BP and Reliance Industries Limited (RIL), and is working to add the remaining 19. Effective immediately, these 11 locations will serve Air BP’s commercial aviation, general aviation and military customers flying internationally. Martin Thomsen, CEO, Air BP, commented: “India is a really exciting aviation market for Air BP, and the addition of these locations to our network offers our customers even greater choice when selecting a quality aviation fuel provider. We see the potential for tremendous growth in India over the coming years, and we look forward to working closely with this joint venture and welcoming our customers to their growing network.” Harish C Mehta, CEO, Reliance BP Mobility Limited added: “With the advent of this joint venture, customers can now experience world-class service combined with the technology-enabled, secure and seamless aviation fuel supplies that BP and Reliance are known for. We are excited about the potential of this partnership for the Indian market and are looking forward to expanding our network footprint together and becoming an integral part of the Indian aviation growth story.” The fast-growing Indian aviation fuel market is already the world’s third largest in terms of passenger traffic. The joint venture aims to increase its presence from 30 to 45 airports in India in the coming years. Customers at these locations will benefit from the combination of both companies’ skills and experience, including Air BP’s international technical expertise providing assurance on product quality, training and operational and engineering standards. The joint venture will benefit from RIL’s strong supply position including product from Jamnagar, the largest refinery and petrochemical complex in the world. AW/ 13/12/2020: Published unedited based on the press release

New Delhi Airports Authority of India, in its continuous endeavor to link under-served and un-served airports through RCS routes, is developing the airport at Bokaro in Jharkhand state, for commencement of civil flight operations. The city will be connected to Patna and Kolkata under Regional Connectivity Scheme. Presently, Bokaro Airport is an aerodrome owned and handled by Bokaro Steel Plant, SAIL. Currently the airport is handling non-scheduled flights operation for SAIL aircraft or VIP movement.For commencement of scheduled flight operations, AAI has undertaken the development work at an estimated cost of Rs 46 Crore which includes construction of terminal building along with associated facilities like ESS, Car Parking, ATC tower, Security huts, Fire Station. The terminal is being designed to process 300 passengers during peak hours. The work for strengthening and re-carpeting of runway, apron and taxi track is also underway to make the airport suitable for operation of ATR-72 Aircraft.Raising of existing boundary wall, construction of new boundary walland provision of connecting &approach roads is also part of the development project. Airports Authority of India (AAI) and Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL) has entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for enhancement of Regional Air Connectivity under RCS-UDAN at the SAIL owned Airports; Burnpur, Rourkela and Bokaro. More than 80% of the project work is completed and soon airport will be ready for civil operations. The operationalization of Bokaro Airport will help boost the local economy of the city and provide better connectivity to the air travelers especially the business class.

23rd November 2020 Country’s largest Airport operator and sole Air Navigation Service Provider Airports Authority of India (AAI) commenced Aviation Safety Awareness Week 2020 (23rd November to 27th November 2020). The week-long celebration is being observed at all airports and ANS locations managed by AAI across India. The Safety Awareness Week began with the address of Shri Arvind Singh, Chairman, AAI. He requested all Regional Executive Directors & Airport Directors to be proactive and devote time personally for monitoring safety performance of their respective region/station. Shri Singh further stressed that during Covid-19 situation in spite of reduced flight movements, it has been observed that wildlife/bird menace has increased at airports. Safety preventive measures should continue unabated irrespective of traffic volume. To raise awareness on Aviation Safety, AAI will undertake various employee engagement programs at the airports and ANS stations like reviewing of documents and facilities, Mock exercises, preventive maintenance etc. Various social campaigns too will be rolled out to raise awareness on the issue. Banners and posters are being displayed across AAI offices and operational centres to educate both external and internal stakeholders on the significance of the Safety Awareness Week. Shri Maneesh Kumar DDG, DGCA has emphasized to achieve long term objective of Zero fatality by the year 2030 as envisaged by ICAO in its Global Aviation Safety Plan (GASP-2020-22) through better managed safety systems of stakeholders. In order to make people of surrounding community aware about their role in ensuring safety of aircraft operation in local airport, Airport Directors will be organizing awareness programme in school/collages on role of local residents in aviation safety. As a safety-driven and value governed organization, it has always been AAI’s endeavour to achieve excellence with ethics. Through the Safety Awareness Week, AAI will further reiterate its commitment towards aviation safety in coherence with Global and Regional Safety Plans. In this process, AAI is committed to remain safe, transparent and accountable for its actions to stakeholders and the society at large. AAI’s Directorate of Aviation Safety has strived in undertaking sincere efforts in aligning its function of advising the accountable executives regarding safety compliance in line with aviation regulator and ICAO. Aviation safety has taken the front seat in all processes of the AAI.

Considering the importance of air connectivity to the capital city of Arunachal Pradesh, AAI has undertaken the work of constructing a Greenfield Airport at Hollongi, 15 Kms from Itanagar. With estimated cost of Rs.650 cr the project includes the development work i.e. construction of airport pavements, air side work, terminal Building and city side works With an area of 4100 sqm, the new domestic terminal building of the Hollongi Airport will be able to handle 200 passengers during peak hours. Equipped with eight check-in counters, the terminal building will have all modern passenger facilities. The terminal will be an energy efficient building provisioned with Rain Water Harvesting system and sustainable landscape. The development work also includes construction of ATC Tower cum Technical Block, Fire station, Medical Centre and other ancillary works. The building`s envelope is influenced by the surrounding landscapes. Moving away from the strict geometry of straight lines and angles, the roof form is organic and establishes instant connection with the viewer. The building interior is designed to emanate a sense of calm to the passengers. This is achieved by providing free-flowing spaces, hidden service core and a glass façade that links the eye to the panoramic scenic beauty of the Himalayan Foothills. At present, Soil testing and field survey works are completed and site clearing work is in progress. Substructure works have already been completed and superstructure fabrication is under progress. The tentative date for completion of the project is November, 2022. Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh is situated at the foothills of Himalayas. Presently, no airport exists in vicinity of Itanagar, the closest one being Lilabari Airport which is at a distance of 80km in the state of Assam and takes around three hours to reach by road.  An airport to connect the capital city is a much needed aspiration of local community which will also act as a primary gateway to the state of Arunachal Pradesh.   (News feed from Corporate Communications Directorate, AAI HQ)

In order to reduce congestion at Tiruchirappalli Airport, Airports Authority of India has undertaken the expansion work which includes Construction of a New Integrated Passenger Terminal Building, a new Apron, Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, and upgradation of Air side facilities. The existing integrated passenger terminal is in use for both international and domestic air traffic and has exhausted its design capacity. The new terminal building being constructed at the cost of Rs.951.28 Crores has been designed to process 2900 passengers during peak hours. Equipped with 48 check-in counters and 10 boarding bridges, the terminal willbe an energy efficient building with sustainable features. With an area of 75000sqm, the new terminal building has been designed as an iconic structure of dynamic and dramatic building form with majestic roof which gives the structure an iconic look. The interiors of the building reflect the colors and culture of the city through materials and textures in a contemporary manner. The intuitive form of the new terminal will create a unique architectural identity in southern region and will add a new dimension to the terminal design. Strong references to the local culture and traditional architecture will be expressed by the building’s architecture. Arriving and departing passengers will sense this identity and reference to the place. The expansion project includes construction of new Apron, Associated Taxiways, Isolation Bay to make the airport suitable for Multiple Apron Ramp System i.e. five wide- body(Code E) and 10 narrow body aircraft (Code C).Other than this, construction of a Control Room, supporting Equipment Rooms, Terminal RADAR, RADAR simulation, Automation facilities, VHF, AAI offices and Meteorological offices are also the part of the project. More than 40% of the construction work for terminal building is completed and the project will be ready by March, 2022. Hon’ble Prime Minister of India laid the foundation stone for construction of New Terminal Building on 10thFebruary, 2019through video link from Tirupur in Tamil Nadu. (News feed from Corporate Communications Directorate, AAI HQ)