A MAJOR plan to upgrade the civilian enclave at Chandigarh airport will be implemented soon, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) proposing to build an international terminal building and independent access to the airport. The runway would be extended subject to release of land by the Indian Air Force and the Union Territory administration, an official spokesperson said, adding that the AAI had sought about 300 acres from the Punjab government to provide independent access from the city. An agreement will be signed in Chandigarh on Friday between AAI and the Greater Mohali Area Development Authority (GMADA) to develop the international terminal complex in the presence of Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, who will also lay the foundation stone for its construction. A joint venture company with AAI holding a 51 per cent stake and GMADA retaining 49 per cent will be set up to develop and operate the civil air terminal. GMADA would acquire the required land from Punjab and hand it over to the joint venture firm, she said. Besides the terminal building to cater to 700 passengers with four boarding bridges, AAI plans to build an apron to park three aircraft and remote stands to house eight wide-bodied planes. It will also construct three link taxiways, a parallel taxi track, a cargo complex and hangars for activities of the Flying Club