Harshita Mathur, Pune
On Tuesday, July 18, 2023, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will virtually open the new integrated terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, Andaman & Nicobar Islands. Reportedly, the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, will attend the ceremony and arrive at the airport by 9 a.m.
Furthermore, the statement stated that the new terminal was built at a cost of around 710 crores and will be a critical step in improving the Union Territory’s connectivity. The new structure, which would cover an area of around 40,800 square meters, will be able to handle approximately 50 lakh passengers each year. Additionally, Port Blair Airport has also invested Rs 80 crore in the construction of an apron that can accommodate two Boeing-767-400 and two Airbus-321 kinds of aircraft. As a result, the airport can now accommodate ten aircraft for simultaneous parking.
Regarding sustainability, it was noted that the airport terminal’s architecture resembles a shell-shaped structure that depicts a sea and islands, and the building has several sustainability features, including a double-insulated roofing system to reduce heat gain, skylights to maximize the infiltration of abundant natural sunlight during the day to reduce the use of artificial light inside the building, LED lighting, and low heat gain glazing. To ensure adequate passenger flow, the terminal building has 28 check-in desks, three passenger boarding bridges, four conveyor belts, and three passenger boarding platforms. According to the statement, the terminal building will have several environmentally friendly elements to reduce its adverse environmental effects on the islands.
These amenities include a 500 KW solar power plant, an on-site sewage treatment facility that completely reuses treated effluent for landscaping, and an underground water tank for rainfall collection. These steps guarantee that the terminal building has as little impact on the islands’ ecosystem as possible.
The PMO office statement describing Port Blair as a gateway to the picturesque islands of Andaman and Nicobar stated that the extensive New Integrated Terminal Building will promote aviation traffic and enhance tourism in the region.