International flight terminal at Vadodara likely to be ready by March 2016

A new terminal for starting international flights from Harni airport in Vadodara is likely to be ready by March 2016, a senior official has said.

"About 50 per cent construction work of the new terminal is over and the remaining work will be completed before the end of this year. The work for creating other facilities as per international standards will be done by March next year", Director, Airport Authority of India, Vadodara Airport, Santosh Dhoke told PTI in Vadodra on Monday.

The project is part of the Centre's efforts to modernise the existing airports and develop them on par with international airports.

The existing domestic terminal at Vadodara airport is small and cannot handle a large number of passengers.

The foundation stone for the new terminal was laid on February 26, 2009.

The construction work started in May 2011 and is expected to be completed by next year.

The new terminal will have an area of 18,120 sq metres with the ability to handle 700 passengers (500 domestic and 200 international) per hour.

"It will have 18 check-in counters", official sources said.

Gujarat Finance and Civil Aviation Minister Saurabh Patel had last year requested the Centre for declaring Vadodara and Surat flight terminals as international airports.

Patel had also requested Union Civil Aviation Minister for starting direct flights to Dubai from Vadodara and Surat.

Meanwhile, the regular operation of Mumbai and Delhi-bound flights from the airport resumed on Sunday after completion of resurfacing work of runway, Dhoke earlier said.

As many as 16 flights operate everyday from the Harni airport, located on the city outskirts.