PM Modi will open the new airport terminal in Port Blair on July 18

Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to virtually inaugurate the newly constructed integrated terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport in Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, tomorrow. The inauguration ceremony will witness the presence of Union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia, who will arrive at the airport at 9 am. According to a government release, Modi is expected to inaugurate the terminal building virtually around one and a half hours later. Here are five important details about the new terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport:

1. Size and capacity: The new terminal building covers a total built-up area of 40,837 square meters and has been designed to effectively handle 1,200 passengers during peak hours, with an annual capacity of approximately 4 million passengers.

2. Iconic shell-shaped design: The architectural design of the terminal building features a unique shell shape that represents the distinct geography and natural beauty of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.

3. Focus on sustainability: The new terminal incorporates various sustainable elements, including a double insulated roofing system to minimize heat gain, strategically placed skylights that allow ample natural sunlight to reduce the need for artificial lighting, energy-efficient LED lighting, and low heat gain glazing.

4. Ample natural lighting: The terminal showcases an innovative design that ensures 100 percent natural lighting for 12 hours a day. This is achieved through the integration of skylights along the roof, maximizing the utilization of daylight.

5. Improved facilities: The terminal building is equipped with 28 check-in counters to facilitate smooth passenger flow, three passenger boarding bridges for convenient boarding and disembarking, and four conveyor belts for efficient baggage handling.