Thiruvananthapuram: Thiruvananthapuram International Airport has initiated the process of selecting a contractor to build two new international terminal buildings, part of a Rs 2,400-crore expansion plan to significantly increase its passenger-handling capacity.The management has invited bids for the design, engineering and construction of the development works, following an expression of interest floated a few months ago. The successful bidder is expected to be identified by the end of this month.Airport officials said construction is expected to begin within two months, and the project is expected to be completed by 2030. The two terminal buildings are proposed on either side of the existing terminal, as space constraints limit the scope for a conventional expansion.The existing international terminal can handle around 3.2 million passengers a year. Once the new terminals are completed, capacity is expected to increase nearly fourfold.The project covers the design and construction of the terminal buildings and associated infrastructure, including roads, access points and city-side facilities such as parking areas. Airside infrastructure, including taxiways and vehicle bays serving the new terminals, will be developed. Cargo-handling facilities are part of the expansion plans.“The expansion has to be carried out despite the limitations in available land and without disrupting the airport’s existing operations. The construction will therefore be planned in phases to ensure that flight operations and passenger movement are not affected,” an airport official said.The airport is also carrying out airside expansion works worth Rs 900 crore under ‘Project Anantha’. The work, which includes cabling, drainage and other associated infrastructure, is under way. The international terminal expansion will be taken up simultaneously.International terminal expansion has been prioritised in view of the airport’s strong overseas connectivity and sustained year-on-year growth in international passenger traffic.The airport is also looking to add more services to destinations in the Middle East and Southeast Asia in the coming years. With a large number of passengers from southern Kerala and neighbouring Tamil Nadu travelling overseas, it is positioning itself as a major international gateway for the region.
