Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday inaugurated the new integrated terminal at Vir Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Shaped like a seashell, the terminal building reflects the natural surroundings of the island and is designed to provide 100% natural lighting for 12 hours a day through roof skylights.
The construction of the new terminal is being undertaken by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to cope with the increase in passenger traffic. The estimated cost of the project is INR 7,077.3 crore. The existing terminal can accommodate 4,000 passengers, while the new terminal can accommodate 11,000 tourists. In addition, the airport can now park 10 aircraft at the same time.
Prime Minister Modi stressed that the increase in the number of flights and tourists will bring more jobs to the region. He stressed that the new terminal in Port Blair will improve travel, commerce and connectivity. He also referred to the current government’s efforts to correct past mistakes and ensure balanced development across the country, including tribal and island areas that were previously deprived of progress.
The total construction area of the new terminal building is 40,837 square meters. It features 28 check-in counters, three passenger boarding bridges and four conveyor belts. With these facilities, the terminal will be able to accommodate 1,200 passengers during peak hours, serving approximately four million (4 million) passengers per year.
