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Special Zone for Domestic Passengers at T2 Thiruvananthapuram, ET Infra

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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The bureau of civil aviation security (BCAS) has granted in-principle approval to provide a special zone for domestic passengers at the international terminal (T2) of the Thiruvananthapuram International Airport for entry and exit as the domestic terminal (T1) is set to be demolished as part of the airport’s renovation.

The final approval is expected within a month. The airport authorities had earlier submitted a proposal to BCAS for dedicated areas for domestic passengers within the international terminal.

According to the proposal, two out of the six departure gates in the international terminal will be exclusively allocated to domestic passengers, and a designated baggage belt will be assigned for their use in the arrival area of T2.

Airport sources indicate that segregation efforts at the T2 terminal are already underway. “Once the final approval from BCAS is received, we will start expansion of the T2 terminal by an additional 50,000 square feet. Once it is completed, the demolition of the T1 terminal on the Shankhumukham side will commence. It will be a state-of-the-art, world-class terminal,” said a source.

Airport authorities expect the director general of civil aviation (DGCA) and the airport economic regulatory authority (AERA) to approve the revised masterplan submitted by Adani Thiruvananthapuram International Airport Ltd (TIAL) before March 31. Discussions among the Adani group, DGCA, and AERA are also underway before official clearance is granted. The master plan for airport expansion was amended to include this proposal.

If all goes well, the T1 demolition will begin within six months. However, the demolition will start only after completely shifting domestic operations to T2.

The airport has decided to expand the T2 terminal as there has been an exceptional rise in passenger traffic and the number of flights.

The domestic terminal handled around a record 1.3 million passengers last year. The average number of daily passengers at the airport is also expected to cross 15,000 shortly. Since more flights have been introduced, there is an imminent need for airport expansion. Since the state government remains silent on land acquisition to expand the terminal, the TIAL has proposed to develop the terminal at the existing facility.

The master plan will be a game-changer in terms of connectivity and infrastructure. It has proposed a five-star hotel near the international terminal and a new air traffic control tower. The number of passengers relying on Thiruvananthapuram airport has doubled over the past two years. Over the same period, on average, international flights have increased 120%, with domestic services up 110%.

Meanwhile, a total of 16 acres of land is required to expand the runway end safety area. It is a statutory requirement mandated by the civil aviation ministry and the DGCA. Failure to meet the requirement by September 2024 could lead to the cancellation of the airport’s licence.

  • Published On Mar 5, 2024 at 01:56 PM IST

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