GMR to take up second runway work after terminal building 

The second runway at Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport would be constructed in the second phase of the developmental works. GMR, which has bagged the contract for the expansion and development of Nagpur international airport has decided to carry out various works in phased manner. The second runway has been included in the second phase of development.

Runway is an important factor in the development of the Airport. The proposed 4000 meters runway will be better than the existing runway and the world’s largest passenger airplane Airbus 380 can also land on this runway. It should be noted that length of the existing 3200 meters runway is being considered to be lessened by 560 meters due to high rise building at both its ends.

Mihan India Limited (MIL) had sent notices to these buildings namely ‘Renuka’ and ‘Highwood’ and their NOC has also been cancelled for violating the norms and increasing the height by 10 meters than the approved limit.

Last year, MIL had conducted an ‘Aeronautical Obstacles’ survey but further action on these buildings is yet to taken as the orders from higher authorities are yet to be received. The existing runway is shorter in length and now the proposal to shorten it by 560 meters due to the buildings can be the reason of the second runway being delayed.

In the first phase, GMR will construct a new terminal building on 64 hectares. It is being said that GMR will undertake the Airport by October 2019. MIL, in a meeting had decided to hand over the Airport to GMR at 14.49 percent of revenue distribution. As per reports, Airport Authority of India was not convinced at the earlier offered percentage of 5.76.