AIRPORT INFRASTRUCTURE

Looking into the growth trajectory of Surat Airport, Airports Authority of India is redeveloping infrastructure at an estimated cost of Rs 353 crores to enhance passenger capacity and flight movements in the near future. The project is a much welcome move but people of Surat want more impetus towards establishment of bilateral for adding new international flights to ease travel requirements of the citizens.
By Vishal Kashyap

On January 30th, 2019, the Prime minster of India Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the extension of terminal building of Surat Airport projecting it to give impetus to the growth of the region. On the approved guidelines, Airports Authority of India has started redeveloping the Surat Airport at an estimated cost of Rs 353 crores with the completion timeline of Dec 2021.

Surat is the financial capital of Gujarat and also hub for diamond and textile business in India. As per the study conducted by Economic Times, Surat will be the world’s fastest growing city from year 2019 to 2035. The airport has witnessed tremendous passenger traffic growth in recent past that is around 600 per cent growth from 2016-17 to 2018-19. This level of growth demanded amendment to the present airport infrastructure at both aeronautical and non-aeronautical area including passenger terminal and its related facilitations as well the runways and tarmac area.

As per the AAI press release, “The magnificent passenger growth at Surat Airport shows the potential and it has led Airports Authority of India to initiate extensive work towards the holistic development of the airport. The total project cost is of Rs 353 crores which includes the extension of existing terminal building from 8474 sqm to 25520 sqm, expansion of apron from five parking bays to 23 parking bays and construction of parallel taxi track (2905 mX30 m).”

Dinesh Navadia, President – The Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry (SGCCI)- Surat for the year 2020-21 says, “In my opinion, Surat Airport is currently poised for a total makeover by Dec 2021 which will see it emerge as one of the busiest airports in India, both in terms of Passenger and Cargo traffic. The logical next step would be its declaration as a full-fledged international airport for which SGCCI has already made representations. Traffic for the region from Middle Eastern Hubs to Far Eastern Hubs already exists, and getting direct flights to these destinations will provide a huge fillip to both tourist and business traffic, both passenger and cargo as these hubs are international gateways. The future holds immense promise for a city which had always wanted a fully functional airport, and now that it has got one, there is no looking back.”

The redevelopment project of Surat Airport will be completed by December 2021. The new state -of –the- art extended terminal building will be capable of handling 1200 domestic and 600 International passengers’ during peak hours making the annual passenger capacity 2.6 million. The terminal building will be equipped with all modern passenger amenities like 20 check-in counters, five aerobridges, In-Line baggage handling system, five conveyor belts for arriving passengers and car parking for 475 cars. The modernized terminal will be 4-Star GRIHA rated energy efficient building and the interiors will reflect the art and culture of Gujarat.

Development of Surat Airport as one of the primary airports of India is one of the biggest mission of various likeminded associations of Surat. They keep on demanding the establishment of air connectivity at both domestic and international sectors, development of infrastructure to world-class level and also setting up of international cargo terminal for smooth movement of goods from Surat to all across the world.

Senior member of one such group WWWAS (We work for working Airport Group at Surat) Linesh Shah, also Co-Chairman of Aviation/ Airport Committee, SGCCI says, “ It’s been notified that Surat Airport has more international pax in comparison to the domestic one. At present, passengers from Surat have to travel from Delhi or Mumbai to various international destinations due to lack of international carriers from this airport. International fliers from Mumbai consist of at least 25 per cent people from Surat and Southern Gujarat. Looking into the growth percentage of Surat Airport, MoCA must consider adding Surat in the bilateral so that foreign carriers can start direct flight from here, which will also relieve Mumbai Airport from the extra load factor.” He further adds, “WWWAS is trying its best to establish Surat Airport under the ASA (Air Service Agreement) with other countries and has met Pradeep Singh Kharola, Secretary, Civil Aviation in this regard.”

WWWAS has also written a letter to Hardeep Singh Puri, Minister of Civil Aviation ( I/C) for considering Surat in the ASA and in his reply the minister mentioned, “Indian designate carriers are free to operate to the agreed foreign destinations at any point of India including India. However, operations by foreign carriers are governed by ASA and that Surat is not available at this point of call to the international carriers.”

Another senior member of WWWAS, Sanjay Jain said, “The way Surat Airport growth is moving, the present airport as well its ongoing extension will not be able to cater the future requirements. It will be good if new world class Greenfield airport is being developed near Surat for international operations so that it can meet the forthcoming demand. The current runway and parking bay will has limited scope for expansion and it will not support the operation of bigger aircraft, so it can be kept operational for domestic sectors only. Surat is among the top 10 most developed city of the world and its future depend upon the world-class international airport which can only be archived by the new green fled airport.”

AVIATION WORLD VIEWS
The way Surat Airport has witnessed the growth potential both in terms of passenger and cargo movement, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India must look forward to the long-lasting demand of the people of Surat. They want consideration on three key points: 1) Addition of Surat Airport in The Air Service Agreement (ASA) so that foreign carriers may look forward to an option of starting flights from Surat. At present only Air India Express is operating flights for Sharjah from Surat which is always 100 per cent full up to its occupancy. This can be accepted as level of trust for the airlines and govt. must look into it with positive frame of mind. Second is establishment of International Cargo terminal from Surat. The present domestic cargo terminal is doing best of its business and Surat being the business hub for many sectors, demand for international cargo can be certainly looked after. However, AAI has already earmarked land for this facility and will certainly look forward to its extension at the earliest. Third is development of a Greenfield airport near Surat for only international services. We believe this is a policy matter which ministry and other related authorities has to decide and whenever they will find it apt, certainly positive moves will be taken forward towards it.

Views:
Linesh Shah, Co-Chairman of Aviation/ Airport Committee,SGCCI & Member, WWWAS
At present despite of potential many international airlines can’t start air serves from Surat. Last year, our group met H.E. Ambassador of Thailand to India and he also expressed his views that subject to bilateral approval they can also look forward to start Thai Airways services from Bangkok to Surat. “We Work for working Airport Group at Surat” is hopeful that MoCA will establish and consider adding Surat in its bilateral agreement like the way we have put our effort towards the development of the Surat Airport in the past.
Surat Airport has received the approval for parallel taxi way and construction work will start soon which will resolve the slot issue. AAI has taken up the expansion of terminal building which will be three times bigger than the present building which will certainly help in enhancing the connectivity.

Sanjay Jain, Member, WWWAS
Surat Airport had just started domestic cargo terminal before the COVID lockdown and despite of the border restrictions, between April-Nov 2020 approx 2415 Tonnes of cargo movement has been done from here which justifies the cargo potential at Surat.”
“Surat has huge international business of textile and diamonds. The nearby extension has seen tremendous growth of international industries. Sectors like Pharmacy, medical, chemical, agriculture farming has to depend upon nearby airport for exports of their goods which can directly benefit Surat with the facility of International Cargo Terminal. WWWAS Group is determined in its continuous effort to get the international cargo terminal operational at Surat which will provide relief and also increase the business them at large, “adds Sanjay Jain.

( Published in Aviation World Jan-Feb 2021 Edition)