TNI Bureau: The much-awaited new terminal of at Bhubaneswar airport was finally opened on Thursday morning. People of Odisha can now boast of having a well-designed airport with all the latest facilities in the state capital, which gets more revenue from tourism. The dream project of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik was finally completed and now he is eyeing to make it an international airport.
The new terminal at Biju Patnaik Airport looks more spacious unlike the old one, which was congested and had space for only two-three flights. The trial run was conducted successfully and the air passengers seem to have been satisfied with the facilities and security provided by the Biju Patnaik Airport authorities.
The Air India flight, which operated between Bhubaneswar-Port Blair carried 18 passengers and landed safely at the destination. “I enjoyed a lot travelling on the flight and appreciate the government for providing us a well-designed terminal at the airport in Bhubaneswar”, said one of the passengers.
“With the success of the arrival trial we are planning a departure trial by end of this month”, said airport director Sharad Kumar.
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Even though, no media was allowed to enter the terminal during inauguration, it was reported that the passengers were delighted to fly in the new terminal and they were treated like celebrities. The up-to-date terminal is a milestone for Odisha and big achievement for the ruling government.
With inauguration of the terminal, now the state capital will be compared with the big cities of India. The terminal will attract more tourists in the coming days.
The authorities are planning the inauguration of the new terminal by the end of December or in the first week of January, 2013. Later, all the domestic operations will be shifted to the new terminal. The old terminal will be reconstructed for international airport.
The new terminal has been constructed across an area of 2,00,000 sq ft in its last phase. Around Rs 145 crore has been spent for the new terminal, which has the capacity of nine aircrafts and 800 passengers would travel daily.
The construction is still underway and will be ready for operations soon. The terminal will have 18 check-in counters, four lifts, two escalators, two aero-bridges and security hold with seating capacity of 600, once completed the project. There will be three CIP (commercially important person) lounges and two VIP lounges. The terminal will have centralised AC, building management system, digital PA and car calling system, fire fighting and sprinkler system. Also the airport will provide three arrival conveyor belts of 250 feet length each for fast clearance of baggage, Parking area for 400 cars/taxis and 10 coaches, the authorities said.