US firm drafts plan for futuristic transport hub at Kolkata airport

Kolkata: An American aviation planning firm has drafted plan for a futuristic multi-modal transport hub at Kolkata airport . Several airports in Europe have such hubs.

The proposed multi-level terminus will enable passengers to take Metro train, buses and cabs from a single facility. A car park will be part of the sprawling building that has been proposed on the plot between the old domestic terminal and the airport administrative building.

The hub may also house retail and food & beverage outlets.

Speaking to TOI, a source in the know about the plan by Landrum & Brown (L&B) said that the building has been proposed above the under-construction underground Metro parking stations. Three metro lines — New Garia-airport, Noapara-airport and airport-New Barrackpore — will converge at the station 12m below the ground level. Construction of five platforms are currently underway. The concourse will be built 6m below the surface.

According to the proposal, a multi-level complex will be constructed over the station to house a bus terminus, separate stands for metered taxis and app cabs and parking lots for private cars at multiple levels above it.

Beyond the car park, there are plans to house retail and food & beverage outlets to provide visitors and flyers refreshment and shopping options.

“The current taxi stand before the integrated terminal is inadequate even at present. This leads to chaos, particularly during busy hours when multiple flights land within a short time as passengers are unable to locate the cabs that get stuck in the snarls at the constricted entrance to the cab parking lots,” an airport official explained.

“The bus stand is in a different location and there is no clarity on when buses of a particular route will arrive or depart. Many a time, flyers aren’t even aware of the bus services to the city. When the next round of modernization and expansion happens, all these services need to be brought under one roof so that passengers get to choose which mode of transport they wish to use,” the official added.

Two corridors with travelators have also been proposed to connect the facility with the terminal 150m away. L&B has also suggested check-in facility for departing passengers at the hub so that they can deposit their luggage and then go to the terminal hassle-free. A separate tunnel with restricted access may be constructed for exclusive use by passengers who decide to check-in at the hub.

A senior airport official acknowledged the hub was part of the masterplan and said the Centre was keen to set up such facilities not only in Kolkata but also at Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad.

L&B has worked on such masterplans for several leading airports in the world, including Gatwick in the UK, Melbourne in Australia, Suvarnabhumi in Thailand, Abu Dhabi in UAE, Shanghai in China, a number of airports in the US and Delhi and Hyderabad airports in India.