Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the new integrated terminal building of Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair on July 18 (Tuesday) at 10:30 am via video conferencing. Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia will arrive at the airport at 9 am.
Terminal Building at Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair
The construction of the new integrated terminal building cost approximately Rs 710 crore and covers an area of around 40,800 sqm. This modern facility is designed to handle a minimum of 50 lakh passengers annually. Additionally, an apron capable of accommodating two Boeing 767-400 and two Airbus 321 aircraft has been constructed at the Veer Savarkar International Airport at a cost of approximately Rs 80 crore, as stated in a release from the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO).
The architectural design of the terminal building resembles a shell-shaped structure, representing the sea and islands. It features 28 check-in counters, three passenger boarding bridges, and four conveyor belts. The building incorporates various sustainability elements, including a double-insulated roofing system, LED lighting, and low heat gain glazing. Skylights along the roof allow for 12 hours of natural lighting each day.
The new terminal building at Port Blair also incorporates sustainable practices such as rainwater harvesting in an underground water tank, an on-site sewage treatment plant that reuses 100 percent of treated wastewater for landscaping, and a 500 KW capacity solar power plant.
The inauguration of the new integrated terminal building is expected to boost air traffic, promote tourism in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, and enhance connectivity in the region. It is also anticipated to have a positive impact on the local economy. The airport is named after Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, a prominent freedom fighter also known as Veer Savarkar.
Apart from the civilian terminal operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the Indian Navy handles other air traffic operations over Port Blair. Currently, the airport features a single runway measuring 3,290 meters in length, capable of accommodating narrow-body aircraft such as the Airbus A320, Airbus A321, and Boeing 737.
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