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First world makeover

This March, Lohegaon’s rickety airport will get swanky new avatar

Anurag Bende

Posted On Friday, February 06, 2009 at 05:29:46 AM

Unlike the old airport, new escalators have been installed at the new building

Come March, air passengers can look forward to a de-congested and enjoyable experience at the city airport in Lohegaon.

To ensure that, the Airport Authority of India is shelling out Rs 78 crore and is promising you a swankier airport complete with a glass facade, restaurants, aero-bridges, escalators, child-care room and so on. "

The current building
Air passengers often complain about the space constraints at the airport and even a slight increase in passenger load leads to chaotic situations.

The current airport building is a small two-storeyed structure and the AAI authorities said they are handling maximum passenger load in minimum available space.

The first floor comprises visitors’ lounge, check-in and check-out counters, security section and a shopping arcade. The second floor is occupied by AAI offices.

The re-vamp plan
G Chandramouli, airport director, Pune Airport, said, “AAI is constructing two new terminals on either side of the existing airport building.

AAI will be providing a spectrum of facilities to passengers in both the new terminals. Right now, our priority is completing work on the domestic terminal by February-end.

The entire project, comprising the two terminals and a new parking lot, will cost Rs 78 crore,” Chandramouli added.

The domestic terminal has an area of 6,000 square feet and will be centrally air-conditioned. Chandramouli said, “The building is being constructed in such a way that more natural light will come inside so that less electricity will be used for lighting purposes.

We will be constructing two aerobridges enabling the passengers to get into an aircraft from the second floor. We will also be providing escalators and lift facilities.

The second floor will also boast of a child-care room and a smoking zone. The remaining area will be used for shopping.

Apart from all this, we will be providing imported baggage conveyer, X-ray screening facilities, four toilet blocks, etc. on the ground level,” Chandramouli added.

Talking about the status of the work on the new terminal, Chandramouli said, “The work on the domestic departure terminal is almost finished and it will be operational from February-end or first week of March.

Since this airport sees more domestic flights, we are going to use this new terminal for domestic passengers. They will not encounter any chaos once this terminal becomes operational.”

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