A new terminal built for international flights at the city airport will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on October 22, a top AAI official said on Thursday. “Construction of the new terminal building is part of the Centre’s efforts to modernise existing airports and develop them at par with international standards,” Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman, AAI said.
“The new building has been constructed at a cost of Rs160 crore and it will be inaugurated by the Prime Minister on October 22,” he told PTI. The terminal at the airport in Harni, on the city outskirts, is spread over 18,120 sq mt and can handle 700 passengers (domestic plus international) per hour. It will have 18 check-in counters, he said. The building, a steel structure, has been designed as per the Advance Building Management System. It has hi-tech security systems, energy-saving cooling mechanism, rainwater harvesting set up and super sensitive fire safety alarm, Mohapatra said.
“Currently, 10 flights operate everyday from the Harni airport which is not equipped to handle more than the existing number of passengers. However, the new terminal will help in accommodating additional flights and passengers,” he said.