Mangalore : New Terminal Waiting for Prime Minister's Date
Daijiworld Media Network (FR)

Mangalore, Dec 16: With 2009 almost drawing to a close the much awaited New Integrated Terminal Building (NITB) at Bajpe Airport will now be a reality only in 2010 as it is waiting for the inaugural date from Prime Minister’s office.  The work relating to the new Terminal Building is complete and only a nod from PM’s office fixing a date for the inauguration is awaited eagerly by the airport officials.  In the meantime the Terminal is gearing up for trial flight within the next few days which will set the ball rolling for the operation of the airport.  

V N Chandran who took over as Airport Director in August 10, 2009, however, is tightlipped on whether the Airport Authority of India (AAI) would go ahead with handling of international flights at the NITB  keeping the formal inauguration at abeyance until getting go ahead from the Prime Ministers Office.  Speaking to Daijiworld  Chandran said “fixing the date for the inauguration is not something which is in my hands.  The finalization of date for inaugural is done from PM’s office with the Airport Authority of India. The inputs which I am getting indicate that most likely Prime Minister will inaugurate it in January 2010.  The date may be finalized any moment.  In fact we have kept everything in place including ceremonial arrangements in anticipation of a date any time from now”.  

The work at the new Terminal Building is almost complete, the only hitch being finalizing a suitable date for the Prime Minister to come down to Mangalore.  As part of the completion process the authorities at the new Terminal are set for a trial run of the flight any time from next week.  “99% of the work of the terminal building is complete.  Trial run is a part of the long exercise before we open the airport for flights.  There are many other aspects like aviation safety, checking-in counters, in-house activities etc., which needs careful monitoring before we go ahead with the opening of the airport for public” Chandran pointed out.  The trial run include facilitating one selected aircraft operation both arrival and departure and allied activities associated with that flight.  With the commissioning of the new terminal the entire premises of airport will be shifted to the new terminal and the old terminal will be used for cargo handling.  

The delay in the remaining 1% of the work is according to Chandran, mainly due to the lethargy of Air India in setting up its checking-in counters at the NITB.  While Jet Airways and Kingfishers have completed its work it is the government controlled Air India which has been lackadaisical in the task assigned to it.   

Chandran is non-committal when asked whether he has communicated to the AAI officials about the completion of the project. “I am doing my job, doing what is expected of me”, he said responding to a query. He further added that the NITB is ready and is waiting for the final nod.  With all work completed from our side it is just a matter of time.  But I can say it is going to be a New Year gift for the people, probably in the month of January”.  

It may be recalled that many dates were decided upon for the inauguration of the New Terminal Building time and again.  In an interview to Daijiworld soon after assuming office in August this year Chandran had stated that September 23rd or 24th of 2009 was decided as the tentative date for the inauguration. He had also said after inauguration it will take another 30 to 45 days for the flights to become operational.  Accordingly by November this year the new Terminal Building should have become operational but sadly it did not.  It was also believed that the inauguration of the NITB at Bajpe was to coincide with the inauguration of the Mysore Airport.  

Mangaloreans specially those who have been traveling to gulf and other destinations have been waiting with bated breath for the new international Airport Terminal to open for flights are now hoping against hope that they will not be hoodwinked again by setting another target for the inauguration.  Apart from being an airport with the capacity to handle international flights with modern amenities the reduced distance of 6 kms to the airport has been another major incentive for travelers.  

It is time to again cross our fingers and remain calm and patient to see the long cherished dream of Mangaloreans becoming a reality when the NITB becomes operational, the long awaited New Year gift, promised for many years now.   Aren’t we reminded of being ‘better late than never”?  

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