The sparkling new terminal building at Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport, inspired by Singapore's Changi Airport, will be inaugurated in July, according to airport officials.
Officials said that civil aviation minister Praful Patel will formally inaugurate the new terminal building in July. The inauguration was earlier slated in May, but it was put off due to incomplete work.
"The exact date for inauguration of the new terminal building is being worked out, but it will take place in July," confirmed Anuj Aggarwal, director, Ahmedabad airport.
The building was originally planned to be used for international operations, but it will now cater to the fast-growing domestic traffic.
"Ahmedabad is a growing airport. It was felt that the new terminal building will be better utilised if used for domestic operations, which account for almost three-fourth of the total air traffic at Ahmedabad airport. Moreover, domestic air traffic is growing at a much faster pace than international air traffic," an official at Ahmedabad airport said.
The new terminal building measures 4.50 lakh sq ft and has been developed at a cost of Rs290 crore. It has the capacity to handle 1000 passengers at a time. With domestic traffic at Ahmedabad airport growing fast, the passenger handling capacity is planned to be further increased to 1600 in the near future, said officials.
The building has been planned according to International Airport Transport Association (IATA) norms for various facilities and intelligent building management systems.
According to officials, on an average, there are seven international flights from Ahmedabad airport per day, while number of domestic flights is more than 50. The airport catered to over 27 lakh domestic passengers in 2009-10, while corresponding number of international flyers was seven lakh.
"The air traffic growth at Ahmedabad airport is much higher than national average. Nationally, air traffic is growing at an average rate of 12%, while it is 20% in case of Ahmedabad airport," said an official.
