The newly built Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower-cum-technical building, fire station and cargo complex at the Jayaprakash Narayan International Airport are likely to be commissioned by July this year.

According to an airport official, the 25-metre-high ATC tower, which is equipped with advanced technology and equipment, will give a further push to air traffic automation with up-to-date air traffic management, communications and aviation-surveillance systems, and ease the traffic flow. It is almost 8m taller than the existing ATC tower. The new

tower will enable air traffic controllers to have a 360-degree view of the airport and its vicinity from the new structure.

KS Vijayan, general manager (engineering), projects, AAl-Patna, said the cargo building, fire station and technical block are ready while final touches are being given to ATC tower, which will be ready by May-end. “Glasses are being fitted in the ATC tower and the boundary wall is also being built. Once these works are done, we will seek permission of the directorate general of civil aviation to start the new facilities. It will take 1-month time to get the permission. We are hopeful that all the three buildings will be operational by July,” he said.

Vijayan added the new tower would provide air traffic controllers better view of the airstrip to manage growing air traffic demand. “The state-of-the-art fire station will have training room, equipment, gym and other facilities. The existing fire station is very small,” Vijayan said.

The three-storey cargo building is equipped with cold room, refrigerator van, weighing scale, x-ray machines, door frame metal detectors, scissors lift, pallets, trolleys and high-security apparatus. According to airport officials, it is expected to handle at least 10,000 metric tones of cargo per annum.

The cargo building has a large storage hall on the ground floor, which is divided into two parts – arrival and departure. Incoming and outgoing cargo will be kept separately. The office of customs clearance will also be made in the building. The three new facilities are spread over an area of 6.35 acres of land and the estimated cost of the project is Rs 27 crore. According to officials, once the new facilities become operational, the old ATC and fire station will be demolished to pave way for the construction of the aerobridges.

The new facilities are part of the Patna airport redevelopment project under which new terminal building and other auxiliary structures are being constructed.