Ahmedabad: As Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport (SVPI) gears up for a major infrastructure overhaul, the first visible on-ground activity is a large-scale tree transplantation drive. Over 200 trees have been identified for relocation as part of the proposed New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) project.The first phase of the expansion, slated to be completed by 2029 ahead of the 2030 Commonwealth Games, has moved into the preparatory stage, with tree pruning and conditioning currently in progress, sources said. “About 200 trees located near the old cargo complex are presently being trimmed. They will be uprooted following proper procedures and in a scientific manner and replanted near Terminal 2. The exact location is being finalized in coordination with the authorities concerned,” an airport source said. Airport officials said the transplantation exercise is being conducted in a planned and scientific way to ensure the highest possible survival rate of the relocated trees. In this phase, nearly 200 trees will be shifted from their current locations to a designated site behind the Terminal 2 parking area. Necessary permissions for the exercise have been obtained from the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s parks and gardens department. “Pre-transplantation work includes branch pruning and canopy reduction to minimize stress during relocation. Root conditioning is also being carried out to help the trees adapt to the new site. These measures follow standard horticultural practices used in transplantation projects,” a source told TOI. Preparatory steps for construction of the NITB are already underway. The expansion is part of SVPI airport’s long-term capacity enhancement plan. Recently, the airport operator moved files for approval for shifting the current ATC tower to a newer location to make way for the expansion. The NITB is expected to substantially boost passenger-handling capacity and modernize airport facilities in line with future demand, positioning Ahmedabad as a major aviation hub in the region.
