Ranchi, May 6: The officials of Birsa Munda Airport have set a six-month deadline to realise the grand expansion plan of the old terminal.

As part of the efforts to provide more facilities to players and officials arriving for the 34th National Games, the authorities also plan to beautify the garden in front of the airport to give a “special feeling” to the visitors.

“As the inflow of visitors to the state during the National Games would increase manifold, our aim is to complete the expansion plan before the event,” said A.V. Krishna, the director of the BMA.

The construction work has been given to RK Mishra & Company, which has begun soil testing. The authorities are presently busy issuing passes to the labourers and work supervisors.

Krishna said the size of the arrival and departure lounges in the airport would be doubled. Presently, the lounges can hold 125 passengers. The security hold of the arrival and departure hall would be expanded to accommodate 200, against the present 110. The baggage conveyor belt, which is 40ft, would have another 30ft to roll when the expansion project is completed.

The project would cost the Airports Authority of India an estimated Rs 1.5 crore.

Construction of a four-lane approach road from Hinoo Chowk to Birsa Munda Chowk is also expected to start soon. The BMA officials said the road construction department has prepared a detailed project report for the road.

The eastern side of the airport would witness some construction work in August when work on the new terminal starts.

This building with modern facilities is expected to be ready in two years. About Rs 115 crore have been set aside for the work.

Meanwhile, the Ranchi-Calcutta sector is slated to get another flight with Zav Airways expecting to start service soon. An airport official said the airlines has got clearance from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation and the service would start in a month.

Zav Airways is headquartered in Calcutta.