Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Passenger handling capacity poised for massive growth

By T. S. Shankar

The new international departure module at the Anna International Airport in Chennai, to be inaugurated by the Prime Minister, A. B. Vajpayee, on Sunday. - Photo: K. V. Srinivasan

CHENNAI MAY 3. With a Rs.80-crore international departure module here all set to be commissioned by the Prime Minister, A.B. Vajpayee, tomorrow the annual passenger handling capacity of the Anna terminal will grow from 1.5 million to 2.7 million.

The 24,670-sq.m module has been designed to handle a peak hour capacity of 2,840 passengers, up from the present 1,550.

The Prime Minister will also formally dedicate air traffic services and integrated air cargo complexes.

While three aerobridges have been added to the existing building and their number increased to five at the Anna International Terminal, phase-II expansion project, undertaken by the International Airports Division of the Airports Authority of India (IAD-AAI), provides for three x-ray baggage machines and 34-check-in counters, which are aimed at easing congestion.

The airport director, R. J. Treasuryvala, told The Hindu that keeping in with a Directorate-General of Civil Aviation requirement, a passenger refusal room was created in the transit lounge area of the new structure. Apart from addressing problems of space constraint, special efforts were made to improve amenities such as provision of big-sized conveyor belts, similar to the ones at the Singapore Changi airport, which could be controlled by the check-in staff at the press of a button. A massive transit lounge, Internet kiosks, a five-star hotel-operated cafeteria, a passenger lounge, a duty-free shop and leather and jewellery boutique shops were other attractions.

Touch-free security

Meanwhile, the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security also successfully tested the new ``Touch-Free Security System'' at the new international departure terminal, doing away with frisking booths. The innovative system aimed at ensuring a hassle-free atmosphere inside the security hold area, besides making pre-flight security check procedures more passenger-friendly.

With facilities upgraded and the possibility of increased operation of international services to Chennai, agencies at the airport hope that the authorities will fill up the vacancies in various posts - for instance air traffic controllers.

Security for PM visit

The Prime Minister would arrive by a special IAF aircraft from Bangalore at 5-20 p.m. and depart at 6-25 p.m. after the function. The State police have mounted the usual security. About 1,000 personnel will be on duty in the area.

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