PM to inaugurate Integrated Terminal Building at Port Blair Airport

 Today, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Veer Savarkar International Airport's new Integrated Terminal Building in Port Blair. His office announced that the inauguration will take place via video conferencing. The government has placed great emphasis on enhancing connectivity infrastructure, and the Prime Minister's Office acknowledged that the new facility will significantly contribute to improving connectivity to the island.The construction of the new integrated terminal building and an Apron suitable for two Boeing-767-400 and two Airbus-321 aircraft at Port Blair Airport has amounted to approximately Rs 7.10 billion and Rs 0.8 billion, respectively. This development has expanded the airport's capacity to accommodate up to 10 aircraft simultaneously. The terminal building's architectural design draws inspiration from nature, resembling a shell-shaped structure that reflects the surrounding sea and islands. Spanning a total built-up area of approximately 40,800 sqm, the new terminal building will have the capacity to handle approximately 5 million passengers annually.The new airport terminal boasts several sustainable features, such as a double-insulated roofing system to minimise heat gain, skylights that allow ample natural sunlight during the day to reduce reliance on artificial lighting, energy-efficient LED lighting, and low heat gain glazing. Additionally, the terminal incorporates rainwater catchment in an underground water tank and an on-site sewage treatment plant that reuses 100 per cent of treated wastewater for landscaping purposes. Furthermore, the terminal building includes a 500 KW capacity solar power plant, all of which aim to minimise any negative impact on the islands' environment.