Uttar Pradesh’s Lucknow Airport To Get Massive Upgrade, With Noida Having The Most Runways In India

Chaudhary Charan Singh International Airport (CCSIA) in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, will soon undergo significant renovations. The Adani Group intends to modernise the same by spending up to Rs 5,000 crore. Lucknow International Airport Limited (LIAL), according to official sources, has requested a tariff rise to pay for, among other things, a sizable integrated terminal and related amenities to improve aircraft flow. The aggregate annual passenger handling capacity of the two existing terminals is 43 lakh, however they currently handle 55 lakh passengers, or 28 percent more than their designed capacity.

“Phase-1 of the new integrated terminal 3 (T3) with a capacity of handling 80 lakh passengers per annum should be ready by this October. Then in another one year, phase-II should be ready with an additional capacity of 50 lakh passengers per annum, taking T3’s total capacity to 1.3 crores,” said the official. The Terminal 3 will include facilities like e-gates, self-baggage drop counters and upgraded lounges.

“The proposed increase in user development fees is being compared with existing UDF rates at Lucknow International Airport while there is a huge gap between the proposed and existing infrastructure. The proposed UDF rates at Lucknow Airport are in line with other major airports with similar infrastructure,” a CCSIA official said.

In this project, Terminal 3 will have dedicated OLA, Uber and taxi pick-up and drop-off zones. According to the reports the   environmental clearance has been taken to take capacity up to almost 4 crore flyers per annum.

“Uttar Pradesh is one of the fastest growing states and is moving towards a 1 trillion-dollar economy. As the capital, Lucknow is the centre for all business activities in the state. Our endeavour for the proposed infrastructural development at CCSIA is to establish a viable and sustainable business ecosystem, enhancing the airport’s catchment area, creation of airport infrastructure in accordance with projected traffic, ensuring safe and efficient airport operations along with a brand promise of being a pleasant experience for our passengers at Lucknow,” he said.

A majority of the capital expenditure projects are related to development of airside and terminal capacity matching projected exponential passenger growth at CCSIA. LIAL will also enhance the green cover of the area by planting 1.5 lakh saplings. This terminal 3 will also have over a lakh decorative planters and indoor plants.

Noida to have most runways in India

The terminal, runway and air traffic control building are being constructed by the Tata Group. After the work the Noida International Airport will be the largest in India with the maximum number of runways. It will have five runways instead of two. The declaration of the same was done by state’s cabinet minister Suresh Khanna while presenting the UP budget. The airport is being constructed at Jewar near Greater Noida. The entire project will be finished in four phases and is expected to be completed by 2050. Initially, the airport will have two inter-connected terminals with the passenger capacity of 70 million in total.

The first phase will Noida International Airport, in which Jewar airport is expected to be completed by September, 2024. This will have the passenger capacity of 12 million with having one runway and cargo hub which will be connected to the terminal.

According to the information, almost 25 percent of the airport has been completed. the second phase of the runway will be extended only after the Noida International airport sees the 80 percent of the footfall and subsequently the phases will be built. The land of six villages – Ranhera, Kureb, Dayanatpur, Karauli Bangar, Mundrah, and Birampur in Greater Noida will be used for building the airport in the second phase of the project.