Proposed ATC tower hit by funds constraint

The proposed state-of-the-art Air Traffic Control tower along with a technical block at the city Airport here is yet to get the clearance from the Airports Authority of India board due to funds constraint.
"Funds constraint is the main problem for the delay in implementing the project and thus it is yet to get clearance from the AAI Board," the AAI Member (Operations) G K Chaukiyal told reporters here on the sidelines of a conference organised by the CNS Officers' Guild.
The AAI is scheduled to set up a new state-of-the-art ATC tower along with a technical block at a cost of Rs 230 crore at the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International (NSCBI) airport here replacing the existing ATC building.

Speaking about the project, the AAI Regional Executive Director (East) S Bhaduri said that tender would be floated for this project after two months of its clearance by the AAI Board.
The project would take about two years to complete, six months after which it would be commissioned, he said.
The project would pave the way for a modern air traffic complex with an 86-metre tower replacing the existing 35-metre tower constructed in 1972.

Apart from being an iconic structure, the complex comprising the tower and a four-storied building will end the space crunch faced by approach and area controllers and will also give aerodrome controllers the much-needed height for better all-round visibility.

At present, parking bays at the south-western section of the new terminal are not visible from the tower.
"After completion of the world class terminal at the NSCBI airport, we are now all set to upgrade the ATC infrastructure as well. Construction of the new state-of-art control tower along with the technical block will commence soon after it gets clearance by the AAI Board," Bhaduri said.
"Air traffic controllers would have 360 degrees of unobstructed view. In addition, the tower will be equipped with the latest equipment and technology," he said.