AAI approves Rs. 45.36 crore worth parallel taxiway at Mangalore Airport

AAI approves Rs. 45.36 crore worth parallel taxiway at Mangalore Airport

Mangalore Today News Network

Mangalore, Jan 20, 2012: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has approved the proposal to construct a parallel taxiway at Mangalore Airport. The proposal was approved at the 148th board meeting of the AAI, chaired by AAI Chairman V. P. Agarwal recently.

The new taxiway, the construction of which will cost Rs. 45.36 crore, will connect the runway with the apron at the new integrated terminal building (INTB). The existing runway is just 250m long.

Speaking about the advantages of the parallel taxiway, Airport Director M. R. Vasudeva said that it is not only safer, but will also reduce runway occupancy time and will lead to smoother operations. Further, he said that tenders will soon be awarded for the new project, which is likely to be launched soon and completed before June 2013, as per the current plans.

Mangalore Airport has 2 runways—the 1625-meter older runway, which can handle Boeing 737 aircraft, and the newer 2450-meter runway, which was commissioned in May 2006, and is the only functional runway in the airport. The second runway can handle Airbus 310 aircraft.

Taxiways are airport paths that connect airport facilities, allowing easy aircraft movement without hindering landing and takeoff. An apron is the place where passengers alight, cargo is unloaded or loaded, aircraft is re-fueled, serviced, or maintained or parked, and many other purposes.