PATNA: Shortage of workers and raw materials due to Covid-induced lockdown has further delayed the Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport expansion project.
The new auxiliary buildings, multi-level car parking and residential quarters are being constructed at a snail’s pace.
The Airports Authority of India-Patna had earlier targeted to complete infrastructure development work at the airport by June-end and set 2023 deadline to make the new terminal building ready.
Patna airport director Bhupesh C H Negi said the outer structure of the multi-level car parking was ready.
“The other auxiliary buildings like ATC tower, fire station, cargo unit and technical block are still under construction.
Due to Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown restrictions, the work got delayed.
We will set a new deadline for the completion of these buildings after a review.
The new terminal building will be ready by March 2023,” he said.
Binod Yadav, director of the private firm executing the project, said 70% work had been done on auxiliary buildings and three structures were ready, including fire station (G+1), technical block (G+3) and ATC tower.
“Only finishing touches are to be given to these structures.
The G+2 cargo building is still under construction due to some unavoidable problems,” he said, adding the building would be ready by November this year.
The city airport is being modernised with an expenditure of Rs 1,216 crore.
The two-storey terminal building will have the departure lounge on the first floor and arrival area on the ground floor.
It will handle up to 80 lakh passengers per year.
According to airport sources, the new ATC tower will be 24m high, almost 8m higher than the existing building.
It will be equipped with communication, surveillance and navigation equipment.
A G+5 multi-level car parking building in 3-lakh square feet area is being built to accommodate 750 passenger vehicles.
The parking will be connected with the departure level of the new terminal building through a link bridge for pedestrian movement.