Thursday, November 8, 2012

Biju Patnaik airport terminal completes trial run



BHUBANESWAR: In another step closer to fulfilment of its basic requirements to get the tag of international airport, the newly-constructed state-of-the-art terminal of the Biju Patnaik Airport here experienced the first trial run on Thursday. The Rs 145-crore new terminal would be fully functional by the coming January, said the airport authorities.

For the trial run, the officials of the airport, security personnel and officials of the construction company were all eagerly waiting for the trial run of the new terminal on Thursday. At 11.25 am, Portblair-Bhubaneswar-New Delhi Air India flight successfully landed on the airport and the passengers were welcomed to the new terminal by the airport officials.

“I’m really very happy to see the new terminal is coming up in the airport like other international airports. It will obviously give new height to the airport,” said a passenger.

According to Biju Patnaik Airport Director Sarat Kumar, the old terminal, which would be refurbished for international operations, is expected to be completed by March-April next year and the aerobridge in the terminal would be completed by July end.

Kumar said the new terminal is equipped with aerobridge, 18 check in counters, escalator and elevator facilities. The fully air-conditioned terminal can accommodate nearly 800 passengers at one time, nearly two times the existing one, he added.

The State Government has been demanding for international tag to the airport and recently the Chief Minister had met Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh regarding the development of the airport. The new terminal would pave the way for an international tag for the city airport, sources said.

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