New Delhi: At a recent India Infrastructure conference, Anil Kumar Gupta, Member (Planning), AAI, shared the authority’s perspective on airport planning and design highlighted efforts to accelerate construction, the role of technology and sustainability, and the key challenges faced.
Airports in India have been planned in alignment with both passenger traffic and aircraft fleet size. In the past 20 years, passenger numbers have more than tripled. As per industry estimates, passenger traffic is estimated to grow around 2-3 per cent higher than the country’s GDP growth, at around 9 per cent annually, to reach over 1.1 billion by 2040. Moreover, the country’s aircraft fleet is expected to reach almost 3,000 aircraft by 2044, observed Gupta.
AAI’s planning philosophy and design principles primarily focus on airports and terminals that are scalable and modular to accommodate traffic growth in the future. This is essential because traffic growth over the next 10-15 years is uncertain. For example, terminals that were designed for two flight movements per hour are handling four to six movements.
Planning is also carried out in line with the International Civil Aviation Organisation, Directorate General of Civil Aviation and Bureau of Civil Aviation Security regulations for safety and seamless operations, he said.
Further, passengers form the core of any airport planning. Terminal layouts are designed to optimise passenger dwell time by facilitating quick check-in, baggage handling and efficient movement to security hold areas.
Beyond operational considerations, AAI focuses on the economic impact since airports act as catalysts for regional growth. For example, the upcoming Jewar airport has positively impacted the regional economy even before commencing operations, as seen in improved connectivity projects and appreciation in land prices.
The key requirements in airport planning and design are anchored around the provision of adequate capacity, non-negotiable safety and satisfactory passenger services. Safety requirements are largely on the operational side, including obstacle limitation surface clearances, firefighting facilities and air traffic control. Further, the passenger service level, which is a paramount requirement, is taken into consideration while designing all sub-components of the airport.
