Bhubaneswar airport to get new terminal soon

Bhubaneswar: The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar will transform into a completely new avatar as the Union Government has decided to begin construction of an all-new terminal by September 2019. The project, estimated to cost of Rs 935 crore is likely to be completed in two-and-a-half-years, informed Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman, Guruprasad Mohapatra.

The formal announcement was made today on the sidelines of the foundation stone-laying ceremony of two major projects at the airport - a link building connecting terminal 1 and 2 and parallel taxi track. The foundation stones were laid by Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan.

AAI Chairman informed that the much-awaited parallel taxi track facility will increase the handling capacity at the airport. “At present while only 12 to 13 flights can land in one hour. The parallel taxi track will augment the landing capacity to accommodate 25 landings.”

This apart, a link building is also being constructed which will connect both the present terminals 1 and 2 to provide the much-needed integration. As per plans, the old terminal building at the airport will be refurbished while the link building will be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 53.93 crore and will have two floors and an aero-bridge.

BPIA Director Suresh Hota said, “Currently, we are operating international departures and arrivals from terminal 2, but after the new facility is in place, the link building will be used for arrivals and terminal two will be used solely for departures.”

This apart, the AAI will also construct eight new parking zones, which will enable the airport to make parking arrangements for 18 flights simultaneously. While the airport witnesses an annual footfall of 20 lakh passengers with 49 flights per day currently, the new terminal 3 will augment the traffic handling capacity to 88 lakh passengers annually.