Port Blair Airport to get new terminal building to handle rising number of passengers

Photo: Twitter/@PIB_India

New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Wednesday (September 16, 2020) announced that the Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair is soon going to have a new terminal building and the airport's annual passenger handling capacity will also rise from 18 lakhs to 50 lakhs.

The step has been taken in view of the surge in the passenger traffic. The Airports Authority of India has reportedly undertaken the work for construction of New Integrated Terminal Building at a cost of Rs 700 crores.

As per the Ministry of Civil Aviation,  with a total built-up area of 40,837 sq m, the New Terminal Building will be capable to handle 1200 passengers during peak hours and about 50 lakh passengers annually. 

"The new passenger terminal building will have three-levels comprising of lower ground, upper ground and first floor. The lower ground floor will be used as remote arrival, departure and service area, the upper ground floor will have entry gate for departure passengers and exit gate for arrival passengers and the first floor as awaiting lounge for international passengers," stated the Ministry of Civil Aviation.

(Photo: Twitter/@PIB_India)

The world-class building will be totally air-conditioned and will be equipped with modern passenger’s facilities with 28 check-in counters, three passenger boarding bridges, five conveyor belts with In-line scan system and state-of-the-art Firefighting and Fire Alarm system. 

The city side area of the Airport will also be developed with adequate parking facilities for car, taxi and buses along with the landscaping.

The design of the terminal is a shell-shaped structure depicting sea and islands. 

(Photo: Twitter/@PIB_India)

The New Terminal Building with a span of 240 meters having two 120 meter column fewer spans supported through periphery steel columns, will facilitate columns less large span arrival and departure hall.

The entire terminal will also have 100 per cent natural lighting through skylights provided at roof level. Curved shaped Cable Net Glazing will be provided all around the terminal building. 

According to a report, more than 65% of project work is completed and the new terminal building of Port Blair is scheduled to be ready by the middle of 2021.