Runway extension for big aircraft

Tirupati: The much-awaited extension works of runway at Tirupati Airport are set to commence soon with the Vice-President of India M Venkaiah Naidu will be laying the foundation stone for “extension and strengthening of existing runway” on February 20. The extension works were pending for long with some land acquisition issues, which were settled recently paving the way for the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to take up the extension works.

Accordingly, the AAI has proposed to extend the runway by 240 metres at one end and 1,284 metres at another end thereby extending it from 2,286 metres (7500 ft) to 3810 metres (12,495 ft). To enable operations of wider body aircrafts, it was proposed by AAI to increase the runway length which can be suitable to cater B-747-400 and B-777-300 ER type of aircrafts.

Further, the existing runway will be strengthened by taking up grading of the 300-metre basic strip area and a strip of size 60 m x 60 m to be constructed to protect against blast erosion in suitable strength. A provision of Runway End Safety Area (RESA) after the proposed extension and pavement against blast erosion at both ends of runway will be set up.

Similarly, some other strengthening works like provision of runway and turn pad edge lights, threshold lights, taxiway, isolation bay signages among other things will be taken up. Security watch towers will also be constructed along with emergency access roads on both approaches to runway from crash gate. The works will be taken up at an estimated cost of Rs 177.1 crore and are expected to be completed by June 2020.

Disclosing the details of Vice-President’s programme on February 20, the officiating Director of Tirupati Airport M Shivaraju has said that the foundation stone laying ceremony for the development works will be held at 12.15 pm on that day. He said that the work order was already given, and works will commence without further delay.

Once the extension of runway works are completed, the airport can be declared as an alternate airport for Chennai in case of emergencies. It may be recalled that Tirupati Airport was commissioned during the year 1970-71 used mainly for the purpose of facilitating devotees visiting Tirupati for having darshan of Lord Venkateswara.

The initial runway of 4500 feet was extended up to 7500 feet during 1994, thus upgrading it fit for A 320 type aircraft operations and later to A 321 aircrafts in 2006-07. It was further improved to facilitate international flight operations with the construction of new integrated terminal building complex, new apron for parking three aircrafts and other works at a cost of Rs 189 crore. It was declared as International airport in June 2017, even though, international services have not commenced yet.