Date:30/10/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/10/30/stories/2008103059030300.htm

Kerala

CIAL departure terminal expanded

A Correspondent

Nedumbassery: The additional departure area of the international terminal at the Cochin International Airport Limited (CIAL) was opened to passengers on Wednesday. Incidentally, Patriarch Ignatius Zaka I, who was returning to Damascus after a visit to the State, became the first passenger to use the new building and its facilities.

After the opening up of the terminal, Dr. C. G. Krishnadas Nair, MD, CIAL told media persons that the new enhanced space, built to ease the overcrowding of passengers in the existing terminal during peak hours, would play an important role in the future growth of the airport. He also said the final inauguration of the terminal was proposed to be held by the end of this financial year.

The officials said that additional area of about two lakh sq. ft was opened for re-routing of passengers to complete the construction works inside the terminal. The total area of the new departure terminal was three lakh sq. ft and with the full fledged opening of the new three-storied terminal, the total space of the international passenger terminal will be 4.78 lakh sq.ft, said the officials.

The new departure area has facilities like additional check-in counters, 36 immigration counters, frisking area with eight male counters and four female counters along with passenger lifts and an escalator. The total cost of the new terminal is estimated at Rs. 40 crore.

In the first floor, five boarding gates with aerobridge connections for four and separate seating arrangements have also been built. Besides, CIAL also plans to develop a duty free shop of 5,000 sq.ft in the first floor.