Scindia Lays Foundation For Terminal At Andhra's Rajahmundry Airport — WATCH

Andhra Pradesh's Rajahmundry Airport is set to get a new terminal to handle the traffic it seen on a weekly basis, Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia performed bhoomi poojan.

Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Sunday laid the foundation stone for the upcoming terminal building at Andhra Pradesh's Rajahmundry airport. He was seen inspecting the new terminal building at the Rajahmundry airport before the event, as per an ANI report. He also addressed a crowd during the event and called it a "historic moment". 

Later, Scindia performed bhoomi poojan of the new terminal building.

The development of this new terminal is estimated to cost Rs 350 crore and is aimed at meeting the escalating demands of passenger traffic at the airport. It is currently linked to Hyderabad, Chennai, and Bengaluru, the airport presently handles an extensive schedule of 126 flights per week.

Scindia said, "I really feel blessed that I am in the ancient city and soil, of Rajahmundry — the centre, heritage and tradition — not just for Andhra Pradesh, but for the whole of Bharat Mata. Our Rajahmundry has been that centre for time immemorial and we are celebrating a thousand years of Rajahmundry in this current period."

Sanjeev Kumar, Chairman of the Airport Authority of India told ANI, that if airlines establish connections with various destinations nationwide, it can facilitate cargo movement effectively. 

"So, since the airport would have the capacity, so if the demand comes, we'll also announce the cargo facility in this airport. The capacity of the airport is already there. Now, if the airlines start connecting with different stations in the country, then certainly cargo can also move as a valley cargo, and AI would be more than willing to provide that type of infrastructure which can help the movement of cargo from this airport", Kumar was quoted by ANI.

After recognising the pressing need to accommodate the burgeoning number of passengers and the existing terminal's saturation, plans have been laid out to amplify the facility by an additional 17,029 square metres of space, a press release said, according to PTI.

Scindia in his address said, "The airport is spread over 1,200 acres, with the runway of 3065 metres, that has the capability to land Boeing 737. As I stand here as a representative of the Bharatiya Janata Party and Prime Minister Narendra Modi — who thinks of not incremental progress but of monumental change and monumental progress." He said that a sign of which is that today's airport is 4,065 metres, 42,000 sq ft adding that the new terminal building that the Airport Authority of India is building, is 17,000 square meters. "400 per cent of the size of today's Rajahmundry airport".

Upon completion of the expansion, the terminal's total area will extend to 21,094 square metres, capable of efficiently catering to 2,100 passengers during peak hours and an estimated annual footfall of 30 lakh passengers, the release specified.

The expansion encompasses numerous passenger-centric amenities, including provisions for 28 check-in counters, the conversion of the existing terminal into an arrival area with four conveyor belts, the installation of eight XBIS (X-ray Baggage Inspection Systems) machines, the incorporation of three aerobridges, and the establishment of a sufficient array of food, beverage, and retail outlets. Additionally, the city-side area of the airport will also be upgraded for parking of up to 600 cars. 

Rajahmundry's rich heritage and cultural offerings coupled with a new terminal building will make it a popular destination for tourists seeking an authentic Indian experience, the press release said.