PM Modi to inaugurate integrated terminal building of Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair on Tuesday

File Photo/AFP

The Prime Minister of India, Narendra Modi, is scheduled to inaugurate the integrated terminal building of the Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair on Tuesday. The inauguration will take place via video conferencing. The new terminal building, constructed at a cost of approximately Rs 710 crore, is aimed at enhancing connectivity to the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India.

The terminal building has a total built-up area of around 40,800 sqm and is designed to handle approximately 5 million passengers annually. Additionally, an apron has been constructed at the airport to accommodate two Boeing-767-400 and two Airbus-321 aircraft, with a cost of Rs 80 crore. This apron allows for the parking of up to 10 aircraft simultaneously.

The architectural design of the terminal building resembles a shell-shaped structure, symbolizing the surrounding sea and islands. It incorporates various sustainability features, such as a double-insulated roofing system to minimize heat gain, skylights for natural daylight, LED lighting, low heat gain glazing, rainwater catchment for reuse, an on-site sewage treatment plant, and a 500 KW capacity solar power plant. These features aim to minimize the terminal's impact on the islands' environment.

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Port Blair, as the gateway to the Andaman and Nicobar islands, is a popular tourist destination. The new terminal building is expected to boost air traffic, enhance tourism, and create employment opportunities for the local community, thus contributing to the region's economy. (With inputs from PTI)