In a significant step towards establishing Telangana's second airport in Warangal, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has initiated the tender process for appointing a consultant to secure environmental clearance for the proposed airport project.
Tender Details and Consultant Responsibilities
According to tender documents issued by AAI, the selected consultant will be responsible for preparing an Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report in accordance with the Environmental Impact Assessment Guidance Manual for Airports prepared by the Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad. The consultant has been given six months to obtain environmental clearance, followed by a three-year period to ensure regulatory compliance.
Proposed Airport Infrastructure
The proposed airport is planned with a 2.5-km-long runway and a modern domestic terminal capable of handling 850 passengers during peak hours. AAI stated that the centrally air-conditioned terminal building, spread across 6,800 square metres, will be designed as a one-and-a-half-level structure equipped with modern passenger amenities and built in accordance with Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS) standards. The terminal will feature aesthetically designed interiors with a focus on passenger comfort and operational efficiency.
"The airport infrastructure will include dedicated facilities such as check-in counters, baggage conveyor belts, queueing areas, facilitation counters, weighing machines, lost-and-found rooms, and housekeeping units. Provision has also been made for self-check-in kiosks, bus lounge areas with adequate seating, smoking zones, child-care rooms, and washrooms," AAI stated in the tender document.
Accessibility and Passenger Convenience
Special emphasis has been placed on accessibility and passenger convenience. The terminal will include tactile flooring, ramps, and other facilities for persons with reduced mobility (PRMs), visually challenged passengers, and persons with hearing impairments, in line with the Ministry of Civil Aviation's accessibility guidelines.
Security Arrangements
Security arrangements at the airport will include designated frisking areas equipped with door frame metal detectors, X-ray machines, and frisking platforms to ensure smooth passenger screening operations.
Local Art and Cultural Integration
AAI has also directed bidders to incorporate local art and cultural themes into the airport's design. The terminal building and airport premises are expected to reflect the unique heritage of the Warangal region through artworks and installations created by local artisans.
