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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