New terminal at Cochin airport to serve international passengers

The Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL), which operates India’s first corporate airport in the Kerala port city of Kochi, is building a new terminal for international passengers at a cost of Rs8 billion.
Oommen Chandy, the state’s chief minister and chairman of the CIAL, will on February 1 lay the foundation stone for the 1.5 million-square-feet terminal, more than three times bigger than the existing one, capable of handling 4,000 passengers at an hour, an official said.
The company, which has 11,000 investors, the majority of them Gulf-based Indians, hopes the additional space and facilities to address the challenges of the increasing growth in traffic.
This is among its series of expansion and diversification projects, including an international golf course.
“The new terminal with an elevation featuring Kerala temple architecture will have all the latest features of international standards,” said PS Jayan, manager, public relations and corporate communications.
“Construction major Larsen & Toubro is building the facility which will be ready within 30 months.”
The two-level terminal will have provisions for 112 check-in counters, with in-line baggage screening facilities, 100 immigration counters, duty free shops of 30,000 square feet at departure and arrival lounges, 19 boarding gates, 15 aero bridges, six baggage conveyer belts and fully covered alighting and boarding area.
Yusuffali MA, one of the directors of the company who operates a chain of more than 100 supermarkets mostly across the Gulf countries under his LuLu brand, will welcome the gathering at the ceremony while V. J. Kurien, the founding managing director, will make introductory address.
Ports and Airports Minister K Babu, one of the directors representing the state government, which is a minority stakeholder, will preside over the function at which a number of projects will be launched.
Industries Minister P. K. Kunhalikutty will inaugurate a 1 MW solar photovoltaic power generation system while Finance Minister KM Mani will open the new duty free warehouse.
Both the ministers also serve on the board of directors of the company as government representatives.
Prof K. V. Thomas, the federal food minister, will inaugurate the second phase of the golf course while K. C. Venugopal, the federal junior minister of aviation, will launch the CIAL Aviation Security Training Institute.
Works Minister V. K. Ebrahim Kunju will inaugurate CIAL Golf Academy and Food and Civil Supplies Minister Anoop Jacob will inaugurate an integrated airport management system installed there.
The company also plans a 5-star hotel, convention centers, an industrial park for software, biotechnology, gem and jewelry and other knowledge-based and specialized industries besides educational institutions, a specialty hospital, multiplexes, shopping malls and an amusement park utilizing the excess land to an extent of 500 acres.
The airport built on 1,250 acres of land, is now the fourth largest in India in terms of international traffic.
It also claims to be the seventh largest airport in India.
Today, the airport records 181 international aircraft movements and 232 domestic aircraft movements in a week, handling 11,000 passengers a day. More than 33,000 people are visiting airport everyday.
The domestic terminal with 100,000 sq-ft area has passenger handling capacity of 400 incoming and 400 outgoing passengers an hour. Once the new facility is ready, the existing international terminal too will be added to this.
The first phase of the golf course was commissioned in 2010 on a sprawling 130 acres of verdant land. It is the first 18-hole golf course in Kerala for playing to the length of over 7,200 yards with Bermuda Tifdwarf on greens and Bermuda 419 on fairways and tees.
The all-weather golf course now has a permanent practice range and a full-fledged club house. It is the first course in India to offer an island green. Five large lakes covering 67,000 sq. meters adorn the landscape while medicinal plants and shrubs fill the space between fairways.
Also on offer are services of experienced coaches, practice ranges and an interactive website for latest updates besides a well-stacked bar and multi-cuisine restaurant, pool, gym, cards room, multipurpose hall and guest rooms.
The airport has a multi-product special economic zone, a duty-free region that will require minimum clearances to start industries.
It is seeking investors to set up industrial units in the area of airport and aerospace-related industries for products and services such as aircraft and engine components, airport equipment, airport-based computer software development and software solutions.
Also on the anvil is a science park and airport museum outside the project site.