The Airports Authority of India (AAI) is carrying out a facelift of the Surat International Airport in the Indian state of Gujarat with an investment of Rs3.53bn ($45.5m).

Under the project, the existing terminal building will be expanded from 8,474m² to 25,520m².

More than 58% of the work has already been finished, with the new building expected to be ready by 31 December.

The project will also see the creation of a parallel taxi track of 2,905m x 30m, along with the apron’s expansion from five to 18 parking bays.

Once completed, the newly expanded terminal will be able to manage 2.6 million passengers a year, which would include 1,200 domestic and 600 international travellers during peak hours.

The terminal building will feature 20 check-in counters, an in-line baggage handling system, five conveyor belts for arriving passengers, and five aerobridges. Incorporating green elements, it is said to be a 4-Star Green Rating for Integrated Habitat Assessment (GRIHA) rated energy-efficient structure.

Additionally, the new building will have parking for 475 cars.

In a statement, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said: “The interiors of the terminal building will reflect the art and culture of Gujarat.

“Surat Airport caters to a large number of business communities across the country, as it is directly connected to 16 cities across the country. The new world-class terminal building of the airport will enhance the connectivity to this industrial city, giving impetus to the overall growth of the region.”

Last month, the AAI announced that the new terminal building at the Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar islands will be opened by October.