Chandigarh Airport new terminal opens
Mandeep Puri in Chandigarh

Chandigarh Airport has finally got a new look with a Rs.77 crore swanky glass building of the new terminal. The construction of the new terminal was started in November 2007, though the authorities had set the deadline of December 2010 for its completion, the opening of the new terminal was delayed due to one or other reason.

Though almost all the airlines have shifted to the new building, there is a lot to be done. “The number of flights will be increased gradually. Once formalities are completed, we hope to start international flights. The terminal has been designed in such a manner that visitors to the city are introduced to its culture and heritage. At present, Kingfisher Airline, Go Air, Jet Airways and Indian Airlines operate flights from the city. We are in talks with some international airlines, which will take time because of the paper work and other legal formalities”, says H S Toor, Airport Director.
 

“At present 12 flights are operating for various domestic destinations but with the opening of the new terminal, hope for international flights has increased manifold. There are proposals to initially start international flights from the new terminal to Dubai, West Asia, London, Vancouver and European countries once or twice a week. The security staff has increased to almost 20 percent which guard around 2000 passengers arriving and departing from the airport every day”, says Toor.

The new terminal will soon have duty-free shops displaying a wide variety of high-end brands. “We have informed the Airport Authority about the construction of the custom shops at the new terminal. After an inspection by the customs department, the Government of India will probably give a green signal to introduce duty free shops at the airport”, adds Toor.

No doubt, the new airport terminal has big space and facilities, but a lot of them are still not functional which is quite disappointing. However, the waiting passengers can find a cafeteria and comfortable seats near the departure and arrival gates. Even after three years, the new terminal is still crowded with construction workers and building equipment and material lying around endangering the safety and hindering the movement of passengers. The rest rooms near the arrival gates are still under construction and the security set up is not yet complete. The moment one enters the automated glass portals of the new building, the symbols of Chandigarh heritage in the shape of Nek Chand's work and Le Corbusier's famous modular man welcome the passengers. Besides the impressive waiting lounge, snack bars and a restaurant have been put in place. Soon ATM machines are expected to be installed soon. A money exchange counter and a car rental option are functional along with check-in counters of different airlines in the spacious check-in area.

Equipped with escalators, a comfortable waiting area and flight information display systems, the new building is more spacious and filled with better utilities than the old one. Though it was a soft launch for the terminal, the building will take another eight months to become fully operational.

Two aerobridges are yet to be constructed. These will facilitate the passengers to enter the aircraft from the lounge. The old terminal building is to be demolished and the apron area increased.

The building constructed on an area of 17 acres has two floors and is centrally air-conditioned. Two conveyer belts have been installed one at the arrival and the other at the departure lounge. Weighing of the luggage and its movement has also been automated.
 

The building, spread over more than 12,000 square meters has modern facilities including visual guidance docking system, escalators, conveyor belts and close-circuit television cameras.

While, the previous terminal can accommodate around 150 passengers, the new one caters to around 500 passengers at a time. In case of more than one flight scheduled to leave at close intervals, the space in the existing terminal is insufficient.

The new Chandigarh terminal has machines to scan cargo installed outside the building, which enable direct entry to the airport. The new terminal has a restaurant consisting of a bar, LCD screens for information and entertainment and is wi-fi enabled. Car parking management will also be fully automated soon.

Home | Story of the Month | Editorial | Diplomats | Intl. Trade & Ties | Hotel Reviews | Travel | Profile | Contact Us

 All pictures and text are Copyright of THE BLUE MOON. No material should be used without written consent of the owner.
Designed & Developed by  Yah Infotech