Airport may get more parking space soon

Coimbatore: The city airport will get an additional parking facility to park 250 cars after the Airport Authority of India (AAI) accepts a proposal.
The existing parking space can accommodate only 250 cars and is jam-packed during peak hours. The space crunch is felt more when there is VIP movement as a large number of supporters visit the airport to welcome them.
Airport manager S Senthil Valavan, confirming the proposal sent to the headquarters, said it was sent three months ago.
The proposed parking space will be set up at the space obtained after clearing the old staff quarters adjacent to the present parking space. “Without additional parking space, it will be difficult to accommodate the growing number of vehicles thronging the airport,” he said.
Data from AAI shows that 2.41 lakh passengers used the airport in April, which is way higher compared to the April last year, when only 2.19 lakh passengers travelled. As many as 2.23 lakh domestic passengers and 18,011 international passengers used the facility this year, compared to 1.83 domestic and 12, 477 international passengers last year.
“We plan to construct a separate terminal building on the other side of the runway to meet demands of the growing number of passengers. It will come up once the land acquisition by the district administration is completed and the same is handed over to AAI,” the source added.