With an aim to boost the state tourism, Odisha today launched its new domestic terminal at the Biju Patnaik Airport here, built at a cost of Rs 145 crore.
The domestic terminal's annual handling capacity would now be around three crore passengers, AAI sources said.�
Dedicating the new facility, Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said, "I am sure this state-of-the-art new terminal building of Biju Patnaik Airport will not only cater to the increased tourist inflow to the state, but also give a boost to Odisha's economy."
The new terminal built at a cost of Rs 145 crore by Airport Authority of India (AAI) is spread over 18240 sq m and has the capacity to handle 800 passengers at a time - 400 arrivals and 400 departures.
The centrally air-conditioned building has a modular design to facilitate future expansion, he said.
The modern glass and steel structure with its interior depict the rich cultural heritage of Odisha.
"In the second phase, AAI will modify the existing terminal building for international operation, construct a new technical-cum-control tower and extend the runway when land is made available by the state government," said AAI chairman V P Agarwal.
Presiding over the function, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik said investment of billions of dollars is coming to the state in sectors like power, iron and steel, aluminium, petrochemical, textile and infrastructure. To sustain this air connectivity to different places of Odisha is essential.
Bhubaneswar Airport earlier had 7500 feet runway with a small domestic terminal building which could hardly operate four to five flights per day. However, the present airport has a runway length of 9,000 feet and operates nearly 20 flights per day with about 500 passengers capacity terminal building.
The state government had provided 816 acres for construction of the airport and gave another 19 acres to AAI in 2012 for the new terminal building and parallel taxi track.
