by Stafff Correspondent
The Airport Authority of India has commenced a parallel taxiway N5 and additional 06 no’s parking bay at Visakhapatnam airport, the move intends to curb heavy traffic congestion and to improve operational efficiency for the airport.
In a telephonic conversation with IADB, Mr. Raj Kishore, the airport director affirmed that, “The existing N3 and N4 taxiways are located perpendicular to the runways. The commissioning of new taxiway N5 can generate additional slots particularly during peak hours, where there are more demands for operation of flights.”
“The flight movement can be increased by a maximum of 150% depending upon the demand after commissioning of N5,” he further added.
Recalling earlier status at the runway, Mr. Kishore expressed to IADB that, previously at the airport there were only 06 no’s parking bays for aircraft AB 321/B747 and 04 no’s parking bays at old apron was available.
“The taxiway N1 & N2 was being used for non-scheduled movements and N3 & N4 was being used for scheduled movements. Due to this there was heavy traffic congestion for scheduled and non-scheduled fight movements during the peak hours.”
According to the director, it was very much required to extend the existing apron for enhancement of parking capacity and to construct a new link taxiway N5 to remove the traffic congestion during peak hours. “Accordingly, additional 06 no’s parking bays and new taxiway N5 has been constructed by AAI for handling of aircraft AB 321 at total cost of Rs. 30.30 Crores. This work has already been completed in August 2018,” he told IADB.
