The Airports Authority of India (AAI) will soon establish a ‘private lounge’ at the new terminal building of the Swami Vivekananda Airport here. The private lounge would be used for providing general aviation and other allied personalized services to the passengers travelling through non-scheduled and chartered flights, officials stated.
The AAI is also starting the ‘Meet & Greet’ service wherein the licensee operator of the service would render services for passengers such as clearing airport formalilities and to escort check-in and immigration counters for the International Terminal Building. The operator would also provide porterage service to the unaccompanied minors, elderly sick and physically challenged persons.
The other services to be provided by the operator are assistance in hiring a car, taxi, hotel booking, arranging tickets, transportation from aircraft to terminal building. The operator would also assist with reservation and purchase of tickets besides providing catering services, arranging for a conference room or services of a business centre.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken a unique initiative of inviting amateur and budding artists to display their work at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur. As per the plan, a panel of artists would be formed who would be allowed to display their Art work at a specific date and time as would be determined by the Airport Director, officials stated.
The art work to be showcased by artists could include Sculpture or any other form of art which would not be limited to paintings only. The artists would also be allowed to sell their works, they stated. The AAI has although cautioned artists that their work should be original.
Notably, the Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur was adjudged as the best Airport in the country by AAI in December 2014. Significantly, AAI also has massive expansion plans lined up for the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur. The Chhattisgarh Government on its part has provisioned Rs50 crore in its State Budget 2015-16 for extension of the runway of the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur to bring it at par with international standards.
The Government in its budget has also decided to upgrade the airstrips in Dantewada, Bijapur and Balrampur. It may be recalled that the State government is trying hard to get air connectivity for all its key cities besides getting international flights operated from Raipur at the earliest. The Centre in its bid to develop 50 airports in the country has already included the industrial cities of Bilaspur and Raigarh in its plans for expanding aviation services in Chhattisgarh, officials stated.
Significantly, on July 24, 2013, the State government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Airports Authority of India to establish an airport at Raigarh. During the last 15 years, civil aviation services in Chhattisgarh have skyrocketed. Earlier, there were hardly any flights landing in Raipur, but as the city began to develop as capital of the State and the economic-administrative activities expedited over here, several big players of the industry began to take interest in the State.
Setting up of new industries, power houses, and increase in demand of airways for people to visit different cities of the country for business-commerce and administrative purposes, the number of flights landing in Swami Vivekanada Airport Raipur also increased. In year 2013-14, nearly 8.39 lakh have taken up their journey from this airport. As State government realized the need to promote airways for travelling, Chief Minister Raman Singh first decided to reduce the VAT rate on aviation fuel from 25 per cent to 5 per cent.
Along with Raipur Airport, Chief Minister Raman Singh is making strenuous efforts to start air services from cities like Jagdalpur, Bilaspur, and Raigarh as well. Construction work of State Government's State Hanger and Administrative Building near Swami Vivekananda Airport of Raipur has also been completed.
The New terminal of Raipur Airport was inaugurated by President of India Pranab Mukherjee on November 7, 2012. The State has been requesting Ministry of Civil Aviation to include Bilaspur, Ambikapur and Jagdalpur in the schemes related to establishment of Government of India's airports.