Gateway to the pristine islands of Andaman and Nicobar, Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair is soon going to have a new terminal building at an estimated cost of around Rs 707.73 crore to handle 1,200 passengers during peak hours.

Considering the surge in the passenger traffic, Airports Authority of India has undertaken the work for construction of a new integrated terminal building with a total built-up area of 40,837 sqm.

The three-storey new building with is expected to handle about 40 lakh passengers annually.

The ground floor will be used as a remote arrival, bus lounge and service area, the upper ground floor as access to the terminal building for departure and arrival of the passengers and the first floor as Security Hold Area (SHA) for international passengers.

Inspired by nature, the design of the terminal is a shell shaped structure depicting sea and islands. The new terminal has a large span (120 metre) and structural steel framed building provided with aluminum sheet roofing and cable net glazing all around.

The entire terminal will also have 100 per cent natural lighting for 12 hours a day which will be achieved by skylights along the roof. The world-class building will be equipped with 28 check-in counters, three passenger boarding bridges and four conveyor belts. City side area of the airport will also be developed with adequate parking facilities for cars, taxis and buses along with the landscaping.

The work for construction of an additional apron area is also in progress which will add four additional bays for the parking of the aircraft. More than 80 per cent of project work is completed and the development project is targeted to be completed by October 2022.

The operationalisation of the new terminal building will give a boost to the expansion of the tourism industry and thereby improve the economy of the region. The increased connectivity will not only create new employment opportunities for the local community but also provide access to better educational and medical facilities.

Security Hold Area

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