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Operations at the new terminal building of the Port Blair airport began on August 21 morning, officials said. The operations began with the arrival of an IndiGo flight from Chennai. The flight, 6E-6213, landed at the Veer Savarkar International Airport with 83 passengers at 7.10 am, they said.
The second plane which arrived was of Air India. The flight, AI-549, landed at 7.20 am with 84 passengers from Chennai, they added.
The IndiGo plane was also the first one to depart from Port Blair, at 7.35 am with 159 passengers for Chennai. The Air India flight also returned to Chennai with 161 passengers.
The facility, currently available at private airports in Bengaluru, Mumbai and Delhi, has been installed at Chennai airport where it is being tested, an AAI official said. “It will help us monitor the time taken by passengers at different points like entry gates, check-in counters, security check, immigration, security hold area and other areas. This will help plan and decongest the terminal in a better way,” he added.
A special programme was organised at the new terminal to mark the commencement of operations. Besides tribal dance forms, the flyers were welcomed with flower bouquets and traditional ‘aarti and tilak’ on the first day. Nicobari traditional hats made of palm fronds were also gifted to them.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the new integrated terminal building of the airport in the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands on July 18.
The new terminal, which is shaped like a shell depicting the natural environs of the islands, has been built at a cost of INR 707.73 crore.
The terminal, which has a total built-up area of 40,837 sq metres, has 100 per cent natural lighting. It has a capacity to handle 1,200 passengers during peak hours, and around 40 lakh passengers annually.
The three-storey building is equipped with 28 check-in counters, 12 immigration counters, three passenger boarding bridges and four conveyor belts. The new apron at the airport has the facility to park 10 aircraft.
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