May MIA reach even higher position: Governor

Bajpe: “Mangaluru International Airport stands at the number one position in provision of good facilities. Even in passenger congestion, Mangaluru airport stands at 31st position in the world. It needs to strive hard to reach to the third position,” said Governor Vajubai Rudabhai Vala after laying the foundation stone for terminal building expansion and passenger boarding bridges here at Mangaluru international Airport on Friday, February 22^nd.

“Mangaluru city has grown as center of business. Mangaluru airport stands at number one position for cleanliness. However, to reach the number one position is not a big thing. But maintaining it for long will be the biggest challenge,” observed the governor.

Speaking on the occasion MP Nalin Kumar said, “We need not worry about decrease in passengers at Mangaluru International Airport due to opening of new airport at Kannur. We have also urged the concerned authorities to start direct flight to Pune from Mangaluru and an additional flight to New Delhi and Bengaluru. The work of runway will commence once the state government completes land acquisition process of 84 acres. Also, there is a demand for connecting road from Kenjar railway station to the airport which will be considered soon.”

Features at the new terminal building

The new terminal building project has many salient features including visa on arrival facility, state-of-the-art additional area of 11,343 sqm in international terminal building, and enhancement of annual passenger handling capacity from 2 MPAX to 3MPAX per annum.

It also has other features like increase in peak hour handling capacity from 730 to 1000 PAX, additional two more baggage conveyors at international arrival and one more additional at domestic arrival, two additional passenger boarding bridges, new arrival hall at lower level, city side tensile fabric canopy, travellators, escalators and elevators, snack bar, F&B, travel requisite, ATM/money exchange, meet and greet area, first aid room and more.

The new terminal building project is coming up at a cost of Rs 132.24 crore and is expected to be completed by April 2020.