CLEAR SPANS

Constructing or renovating an airport requires thought and large budgets. This is how it is done

- MOLLY R

There are several upcoming airports in India that promise to revolutionize air connectivity throughout the country while boosting infrastructure and business development simultaneously.

The decision to invest in several upcoming airports in India is driven by forecasted growth of air fleets to 1,200 from 600 earlier. The airports will help in easing the current strain placed on the travel hubs of the country. The AAI (Airports Authority of India) holds responsibility for the management of 136 Indian airports and 6 other airports are operated on the PPP (public-private partnership) model. India is the third largest domestic civil aviation globally at present.

But large projects such as these can often spiral out of control. Evan Walker, project manager, Turner India, says, “A significant factor in managing the cost of an airport project is having a comprehensive understanding of the ongoing market rate for different construction scopes, especially the unique airport systems. There are many organisations both within and outside India that offer an array of products for airport construction, and the knowledge of these enterprises and vendors helps to ensure that the widest net is cast to get reliable and competitive pricing. Such advantage is gained through experience and building relationships. Our job is to keep the stakeholders aware of the costs for their requests and subsequently, if we notice that the costs are creeping above the stipulated budget, we proactively look for alternate solutions or modifications that can still meet the stakeholders’ requirement while staying within budget.”