BPIA awaits Rs.200-cr terminal expansion

In its quest to build faster air connectivity at a massive scale in the state, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has recently decided to build the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) involving merger of Domestic (Terminal I) and International (Terminal II) terminals at an investment of Rs.200 crore. The project has been designed to bring in more international airlines and flyers to the airport, which is expected to be completed by April 2018. The aerobridge facility will also be made available in the international terminal, which is as of now available at the domestic terminal, said Director of BPIA R Mahalingam, adding that after the completion of this merger, passengers can move to either of the terminals without exiting the building. This merger will surely entail more footfalls for businesses in the airport lounges. Significantly, the recent aviation experts’ survey has put BPIA (14th position) on the list of Top 20 busiest airport of India. Besides considering the problem of traffic congestion on the exit lane, the AAI is also planning to have an extra exit lane, he claimed.