India’s airports could get choked: report
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India’s already congested airports could get choked, according to data from Airports Authority of India.
A Times of India report said rising income levels and travel aspirations is set to increase passenger traffic by over 20% in the next five years.
So, instead of handling 120 million passengers by the end of 2011-12, Indian airports – which are operating at more than full capacity – could have to grapple with 256.5 million air travellers by the end of March 2012, the report said.
But that’s not the only change, the report said.
Mumbai, the busiest airport in India, would soon be overtaken by the one in New Delhi. Once the Delhi airport gets a new runway and terminal this summer, more flights would come to the capital as the Mumbai airport is now choking.
Besides, the data from AAI also show that domestic air travel is expected to see a higher growth of around 24%.
The newspaper said the government, which is facing flak for not upgrading airports in time, however, has tried to allay these fears.
“All upgradation and modernisation work will be as per the new growth figures. By 2010, we will upgrade the communication and navigation systems and complete 35 non-metro airports,” AAI chairman K Ramalingam was quoted saying.
The modernisation of airports in two other cities – Chennai and Kolkata – will also be completed by then, he was quoted saying.
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