Two multi-level car parks at airport to be ready by April 2021, says AAI ‘2K Cars Can Be Parked, 80% Work Over So Far’

Two multi-level car parks at airport to be ready by April 2021, says AAI

‘2K Cars Can Be Parked, 80% Work Over So Far’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:29.11.2020

The two multi-level car parks at Chennai airport will be ready by April 2021, with about 80% of the work completed so far, an Airports Authority of India (AAI) official said.

Construction, which began in March last year, is progressing fast to meet the April deadline, the official added.

The initial plan was to have two towers, flanking the airport metro station, but it was later revised to add a hotel and a mall.

With the old terminal building — which had a transit lodging facility — pulled down to build a new terminal, AAI decided to set up a hotel in one of the parking blocks.

Many airports abroad have hotels on campus or nearby, said an official, adding that a hotel would benefit transit passengers and business travellers.

The entire two-tower complex will come up across 4.25 acres at a cost of ₹250 crore and can accommodate a minimum of 2,000 cars. The tower on the west will have six parking levels, including the basement, a hotel spread across 2,749sqm and food and beverage retail stores across 4,804.85sqm. The one on the east will have seven parking levels, a multiplex spread across 3,717.61sqm and a mall spread over 14,030sqm and three levels.

With domestic passenger traffic picking up and an integrated terminal almost ready, the towers will help accommodate all the cars and prevent traffic congestion inside the campus. The airport at present handles close to 190 flights and around 21,000 passengers a day.

Passengers after parking their cars in the towers can access the terminals without having to leave the building. A link bridge will connect the parking block with the elevated tube that runs before the terminals. Most of the buildings have been constructed and work will soon be taken up to link them to the terminals. The existing parking lot on the ground proved inconvenient as passengers have to cross the road in front of the terminal to access it.

“The multi-level car parks with its hotels and malls will help convert the area into a commercial zone and will enhance the airport’s non-aeronautical revenue,” an official said.

NEARING COMPLETION: Work is under way at the multi-level car parking facility at the airport