In a pursuit of excellence in project management, Mangaluru International Airport has jointly secured the prestigious Build India Infra award 2024 in the innovation category.

The awards ceremony, held in New Delhi on March 11, saw Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, Nitin Gadkari, presenting the award to the airport team. The team, consisting of Unnikrishnan Pothany, projects head, and Mukesh Nankani, chief airport officer, was recognized for their outstanding contribution.

Mangaluru International Airport was nominated for its groundbreaking 2,450-meter runway recarpeting project, conducted from March 10, 2023, to May 28, 2023. The project’s unique aspect involved the application of a flexible asphalt overlay on a rigid runway, a pioneering endeavor in India aimed at meeting compliance norms and enhancing operational safety.

Originally built in the fiscal year 2005-06, the concrete runway (06-24) faced slope issues that did not meet regulatory requirements. The recarpeting work not only addressed these concerns but also aligned with safety standards mandated by the Ministry of Civil Aviation following the Calicut International Airport air crash in August 2020.

The project also included the installation of runway centerline lights to ensure safe aircraft operations. The awards, which acknowledged excellence in various infrastructure sectors, including roads, ports, aviation, railways, and metro, highlighted achievements in impact, sustainability, and innovation categories.

Moreover, the awards celebrated extraordinary initiatives in Indian infrastructure, underscoring the sector’s pivotal role in national progress and development.

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