Veer Savarkar Airport: PM Modi inaugurates shell-shaped building; know construction cost, design, other details

Integrated Terminal Building at Veer Savarkar: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday virtually inaugurated the new Integrated Terminal Building at Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair in Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

Veer Savarkar Airport Terminal Building: Construction cost 

The inauguration of the New Integrated Terminal Building, built at a cost of around Rs 710 crore, will boost connectivity of the island.

With a total built up area of around 40,800 sq m, the new terminal building will be capable of handling about 50 lakh passengers annually.

An Apron suitable for two Boeing-767-400 and two Airbus-321 types of aircraft has also been constructed at Port Blair Airport at a cost of Rs 80 crore, making the airport now suitable for parking of ten aircrafts at a time.

Veer Savarkar Airport Terminal Building:  Architectural design

Inspired from nature, the architectural design of the airport terminal resembles a shell-shaped structure depicting sea and islands. 

Veer Savarkar Airport Terminal Building: Features 

The new airport terminal building has a number of sustainability features like Double Insulated Roofing System to reduce heat gain, skylights to provide maximum inlet of abundant natural sunlight during day time to reduce artificial light usage inside the building, LED lighting, low heat gain glazing.

Rainwater catchment in an underground water tank, on-site sewage treatment plant with 100 per cent of treated wastewater reused for landscaping and a 500 KW capacity solar power plant are some other features of the terminal building ensuring minimal negative impact on the islands’ environment.

Veer Savarkar Airport Terminal Building: Connectivity 

Veer Savarkar International Airport has connectivity with Delhi, Chennai, Hyderabad and Visakhapatnam and will be further expanded. 

Big boost for tourism and employment 

As a gateway to the pristine islands of Andaman and Nicobar, Port Blair is a popular destination for tourists. The spacious New Integrated Terminal Building will boost air traffic and help enhance tourism in the region. It will also help create enhanced employment opportunities for the local community and give fillip to the economy of the area.