Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Dream come true for air travellers in City of Destiny

Photo: K.R. Deepak

A view of the new integrated terminal building that is getting ready for inauguration on Saturday. —

VISAKHAPATNAM: A long-cherished dream of Vizagites, specially air passengers, and described as one more jewel in the crown of the City of Destiny the Rs.95-crore New Integrated Terminal Building of the Visakhapatnam Airport is getting ready for its inaugural function on Saturday. The change from the existing one to the new one will be smooth, asserted the Director of Visakhapatnam Air Port, C. Pattabhi. How is the new one different from the old?.

It is located on a sprawling area of 20,000 sq mts as against the present one with a mere 2400 sq mts area. Unlike the present one, the new one is an integrated terminal for both domestic and international flights. According to Mr. Pattabhi, the passenger capacity would be 700 (400 domestic and 300 international) as against the present 150. A state of the art Flight Information Dispatch System , escalators, elevators and car park (for 300 four wheelers and 200 two wheelers), keeping in mind the security aspects are the other facilities. A separate lane for 200 taxis and toilet facilities for visitors would also be available.

The other facilities, according to Mr.Pattabhi, include 20 check-in counters, duty free shops, customs and immigration counters, snack bars, child care centres, and special lounges for VIPs and CIP (commercially important persons).

Major part of the new terminal building was constructed with glass and steel which makes it environmental-friendly. At present five airlines, viz Air India, Jet Lite, Paramount, King Fisher and Spice Jet have been operating and, according to Mr.Pattabhi, two more airlines, Go Air and Star Aviation, had expressed interest . On starting international flights, Mr.Pattabhi said that Silk Air and Sri Lankan Airways had made preliminary enquiries to commence international flights. Now that all facilities are available, we are sending messages to international airlines, he said.

According to a survey, more than 60 per cent of passengers from Vijayawada to Srikulam districts have been going to Hyderabad for their international flights. Once the international flights start their operations, these passengers are expected to come to Visakhapatnam airport, because it would be cheaper and more convenient.

It is SriLankan Airlines and not Sri Lankan Airways as mentioned in a report "Dream come true for air travellers in City of Destiny" (Visakhapatnam, February 19, 2009).

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