KOCHI: The Cochin International Airport Limited is set to change its face with the commissioning of the new international terminal by the end of this year.
The road leading to the airport from Athani junction is being made four-lane and a new rail overbridge is also set to be built to make the process of making the four-km road straight and fully four-lane as part of the ancillary makeover projects.
“Once the four-lane work and work on the rail overbridge is over, the entry to the airport which is currently from the northern side will be from the western side so as to enable travellers reach the new international terminal straight. The airport will be west-faced and not north-faced as it is now. The civil work on the new international terminal is expected to be over by this June before the start of the monsoon,” said an official of CIAL.
The rail overbridge will be built at a cost of Rs 11 crore and with this the existing bend of the road too will be straightened. The road widening is being undertaken at a cost of Rs 30 crore. As part of giving a new face to the airport, the CIAL is also constructing a commercial complex at a cost of Rs 36 crore.
“The works on the complex which started in January this year are progressing at a fast pace. The commercial complex in 1.25 lakh square feet area spread in seven storeyes will give a new shopping experience to not only travellers but to all visitors who include relatives of the travellers to the airport area,” said the official.
“Parking of vehicles has at the airport become fully automated which has ruled out scope for complaints regarding collection of parking fee. As part of beautification process, more plants that bloom in different seasons will be planted at the airport surroundings when the new international terminal begins operations to give the airport a new look,” said the official.
