Chennai: The runway length of the country’s first fully private green field airport, proposed to be set up in Karaikal, Puducherry, has been scaled down for the first phase, with a view to completing the project soon.

Super Airport Infrastructure (India) Private Limited (SAIIPL), entrusted with the construction of the airport, has reduced the proposed runway length from 1.8 km to 1 km for the first phase, a top company official said.

Speaking to reporters here on Friday, chairman of SAIIPL, JV Chowdhury said the company had obtained necessary clearances from regulatory agencies, including permission from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and an NOC from the Puducherry government and has begun making preparations for establishing the airport.

“In the first phase of construction, the airport will have a 1 km runway, which could accommodate small aircrafts like Dornier 228 and 328. Up to 30 passengers can travel in such aircrafts,” he said.

He pointed out that while initially the company had planned to have a 1.8 km runway in the first phase, it would have required more time and resources for completion. “We have scaled down the first phase to 1 km with a view to complete the works at the earliest,” said Chowdhary, adding that the company will gradually expand the length to 1.8 km in the next phase and then to 2.6 km to accommodate regional jets, Boeing 737 and even bigger planes.

SAIIPL has proposed to set up the airport in about 526 acres of land and has already acquired nearly 350 acres, which is adequate for the first phase of the project, he added.