Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the integrated terminal building of Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, marking a significant step towards enhancing connectivity to the island.
The construction of this state-of-the-art facility, valued at approximately Rs 710 crore, is expected to have a transformative impact. With a spacious built-up area of around 40,800 square meters, the terminal has the capacity to accommodate approximately 5 million passengers every year.
Prime Minister Modi emphasized that the new integrated terminal will not only facilitate smoother travel and business transactions but also strengthen overall connectivity.
The new integrated terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair, will ensure easier travel to Andaman and Nicobar islands. This will be a big boost for tourism in particular. The building will be inaugurated tomorrow, 18th July, at 10:30 AM. https://t.co/iGP2ZLJxYl pic.twitter.com/i2QK2rwArO
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) July 17, 2023
In a tweet shared yesterday, PM Modi expressed his enthusiasm, stating, “The new integrated terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport, Port Blair, will ensure easier travel to the Andaman and Nicobar islands. This development will provide a significant boost to tourism, making it more accessible for visitors. The inauguration of the building will take place tomorrow, on July 18th, at 10:30 AM.“
The Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) further elaborated that the terminal building, encompassing an area of approximately 40,800 square meters, includes an apron that was constructed at a cost of Rs 80 crore. This apron can accommodate two Boeing-767-400 and two Airbus-321 type aircraft, or it can facilitate the parking of up to 10 aircraft simultaneously.
Port Blair is not only a popular tourist destination but also acts as the primary gateway to the stunning Andaman and Nicobar islands. The newly inaugurated terminal building is expected to have a significant impact on air traffic and tourism, consequently generating employment opportunities for the local communities in the region.
To ensure sustainable operations, the terminal incorporates various environmentally-friendly features. These include a double-insulated roofing system to minimize heat gain, skylights that maximize natural daylight utilization, energy-efficient LED lighting, low heat gain glazing, a rainwater catchment system in an underground tank, an on-site sewage treatment plant that enables 100 percent wastewater reuse for landscaping purposes, and a 500 kW solar power plant.
These initiatives aim to minimize any detrimental effects on the islands’ fragile ecosystem, thereby enhancing the appeal of Port Blair and its surrounding islands as an enticing destination for tourists.
