New multi-storey car park with gateway to domestic and international terminals at Chennai airport. | Photo Credit: B. VELANKANNI RAJ
Vehicle parking at the Chennai airport is set to become much easier as a new multi-level car park (MLCP) is set to open on December 4, three years and more delayed after construction work began.
Built on an area of 4.25 hectares at a cost of 250 million rupees, the facility includes a covered walkway connecting it to the domestic and international terminals.
At the moment, it is a virtual scramble for space in the parking lot, which accommodates 1,200 cars. The new facility, which has a mechanized parking lot on the upper floor, can accommodate 2,200 vehicles. It should take care of the demand until 2030.
Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials said they have received all statutory clearances from agencies such as the Bureau of Civil Aviation Safety (BCAS) and the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board.
“We designed it to be suitable for everyone who comes to pick up passengers. With better access roads, parking will be easier and similar to shopping centers. We carried out inspections and started with test drives. We will conduct trial runs this week before inaugurating the facility,” the official said.
In addition to parking, the building, which has east and west tracts, will also have many shopping and entertainment options for transit passengers. There will be retail outlets, shops, a restaurant and a multiplex. Sources say the car park will open next week and the shops may open in a few weeks.