Leh airport is getting a new terminal building by Dec 2022, courtesy AAI

New Delhi: Situated at 3,256 m (10,682 ft) above of sea level, Kushok Bakula Rinpoche Airport at Leh is gearing up for a new world-class terminal building, courtesy the Airports Authority of India (AAI). With the existing terminal capacity, Leh Airport has handled more than nine lakh passengers per annum in recent years. To cater to the traffic growth and growing demand, construction of a state-of-the-art new terminal building with modern facilities is underway at a cost of Rs 480 crore, said AAI on Friday. Equipped with all essential passenger-friendly amenities and conveniences, the airport will be able to handle 20 lakh passengers annually after the completion of the construction work in December 2022.

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The upcoming New Terminal Building will be a 4-star GRIHA rated energy-efficient building with 18 check-in counters, Inline Baggage Handling Systems and centralised cooling and heating systems for providing passenger comfort during extreme winter. The terminal is designed in various levels to protect the natural profile of the landscape and will be well connected with elevators, escalators and staircases for ensuring a smooth flow of passengers. The design of the building will reflect the philosophy of ancient Buddhist wisdom intertwined with a modern ethos and closely incorporate Buddhist design elements in the overall look and feel of the building.

Leh figures on the international tourist map and attracts a large inflow of tourists both from home and abroad. The new world-class terminal building of Leh Airport will give a boost to the tourism industry and create employment opportunities in the region.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi laid the foundation stone for the construction of the new terminal building in Leh on February 3, 2019.

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