New Terminal building coming up at AAI’s Port Blair Airport

• AAI has undertaken the work for construction of the new integrated terminal building of Port Blair Airport at the cost of Rs 700 crores

• The new terminal building will be capable to handle 1,200 passengers during peak hours and about 50 lakhs passengers annually

New Delhi: Gateway to the pristine islands of Andaman & Nicobar, Veer Savarkar International Airport of Port Blair is soon going to have a new terminal building. The airport currently handles 18 lakhs passengers annually, considering the surge in the passenger traffic, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has undertaken the work for construction of the new integrated terminal building at the cost of Rs 700 crores.

With a total built-up area of 40,837 sqm, the new terminal building will be capable to handle 1,200 passengers during peak hours and about 50 lakhs 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.

The world-class building is 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. Cityside area of the airport will also be developed with adequate parking facilities for car, taxi and buses along with the landscaping.

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

Inspired from nature, the design of the terminal is a shell-shaped structure depicting sea and islands. The new terminal building with a span of 240 mtrs having two 120 mtr column fewer spans supported through periphery steel columns, will facilitate columns less large span arrival and departure hall. The new terminal building is a structural steel framed building provided with aluminium sheet roofing and cable net glazing all around. 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. This is a unique and first time introduced in AAI with such a large magnitude at Port Blair Airport.

More than 65 percent of project work is completed and the new terminal building of Port Blair is scheduled to be ready by the middle of the next year i.e. 2021.

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