TBM Staff - Mumbai On Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the new integrated terminal building of Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The terminal building, shaped like a shell to reflect the natural surroundings of the islands, is designed to provide 100% natural lighting for 12 hours a day with the help of skylights on the roof.
The construction of the new terminal was undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in response to the increase in passenger traffic. The estimated cost of the project was INR 707.73 crore. The existing terminal had the capacity to handle 4,000 tourists, whereas the new terminal increases that capacity to 11,000. Additionally, the airport can now accommodate the parking of 10 planes simultaneously.
Prime Minister Modi highlighted that the increased number of flights and tourists would lead to more job opportunities in the region. He emphasized that the new terminal at Port Blair would improve ease of travel, ease of doing business, and connectivity. He also mentioned the efforts of the present government to rectify past mistakes and ensure balanced development across the country, including tribal and island regions that were previously deprived of progress.
The new terminal building spans a total built-up area of 40,837 square meters. It features 28 check-in counters, three passenger boarding bridges, and four conveyor belts. With these facilities, the terminal will be able to handle 1,200 passengers during peak hours and serve approximately 40 lakh (4 million) passengers annually.
