New control tower at Trichy airport likely to be ready by Dec
Airports Authority of India
(AAI) said that the new air traffic control (ATC) tower and technical block at the Trichy airport is likely to be ready by Dec this year. The tower which will serve the increased traffic of the new integrated passenger terminal was slated to completed by this month.
The 151ft-tall tower will feature an eight-storey ATC block and four-storey technical block, proposed at an outlay of Rs 60.7 crore. Construction work for the new block began in mid-2023.Officials said around 75% of work has been completed so far. "We have planned to complete the work by Sep. Subsequently, a team from the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) will inspect and approve it for commissioning. It may become operational by Dec," S Gnaneswara Rao, director of Trichy airport, told TOI. The new ATC tower is being constructed between the old terminal and new integrated passenger terminal, providing a clear view of aircrafts approaching and leaving the runway. Trichy airport is currently handling 53 to 62 flights (both domestic and international) per day, up from 40 to 50 flights handled per day in Feb this year. Due to the increase in flight services, AAI had commissioned a Doppler Very High-Frequency Omni Range/Distance Measuring Equipment (DVOR/DME), an advanced navigational facility, at the Trichy airport. Meanwhile, aviation enthusiasts urged the AAI to preserve the old ATC tower, which was opened in Nov 1960, as a heritage site. "Instead of demolishing the existing ATC tower after the new facility becomes operational, AAI must consider using the 65-year-old tower for educational and training purposes," H Ubaidullah, an aviation analyst, said. Officials that a decision on making use of the old ATC tower is yet to be finalised.
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