India's tallest Air Traffic Control tower, the height of a 30-storey skyscraper, was commissioned at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here Wednesday, an official said.

 

 The ATC operations here have been taken over by the new tower, which stands at 83.8 metres, over 20 metres higher than the existing structure.

 

 The new tower, built at a cost of around Rs.1.25 billion (Rs.125 crore/$20 million) affords an uninterrupted five-mile 360-degrees view of the surroundings for better navigation and surveillance.

 

 However, its distinction will be short-lived as the new ATC tower in New Delhi is expected to stand 102 metres tall.

 

 Equipped with the latest technology in communications, navigation and surveillance (CNS) systems, the new ATC has a capacity of handling 46 flight operations per hour, including around 750 take-offs and landings, and controlling other air traffic movements like international air traffic in a 24-hour cycle making it among the busiest in the country.

 

 The swank, new ATC tower was inaugurated in October this year and since then was working in co-ordination with the old ATC tower before the formal migration took place Wednesday.

 

 To be manned by around 10 ATC controllers and a dozen engineers in each shift, the new ATC tower is spread over 2,884 square metres with an award-winning design.

 

 The old ATC tower will be soon be demolished and will enable the GVK Group that runs the airport provide more amenities and facilities to improve operations and efficiency at the airport.