Kochi: World's first solar-powered airport to open tomorrow

Kochi: Adding a new chapter in the glorious track record of Kochi international airport, the world's first ever solar energy powered airport, a new international terminal will be commissioned by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy tomorrow.

Construction of new terminal T-3 with 15 lakh sq ft was completed in just 24 months and is expected to become fully operational commercially by May this year.

Once this happens, the international terminal will be converted to a domestic terminal, increasing its area from one lakh square feet to five lakh square feet, officials at Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL) said here today. The foundation stone for the new terminal was laid by Chandy on February 1, 2014.

CIAL in a release said it has got the expertise to complete any complex project in a time bound manner. In comparison to other major airports, T-3 has been completed in much lower cost, it said.

V J Kurian, CIAL Managing Director said while the 54 lakh sq ft terminal three of Delhi International Airport was built at a cost of Rs 13,000 crore in 2008, T-3 at CIAL with an area of 15 lakh sq ft was completed for less than Rs 1000 crore.

"This was done as CIAL is very particular not to pass on the burden of construction cost on to passengers," he said. Besides the new terminal, the flyover has also been completed at a cost of Rs 34 crore.

"T-3 operates in three tiers. Departure is on the top floor. Vehicles can reach the departure kerb along the flyover. After check-in and emigration process, passengers can board the flights along aerobridges," CIAL said.

The second floor is for aerobridge connectivity. Passenger arriving at the international terminal will reach at the ground floor, where emigration counters are situated. After emigration, passengers can exit passing the walk through duty-free shop. Once commercial operations are on, the terminal will have 50,000 sq ft walk through duty-free shop.

CIAL said it thought of the new international terminal due to steady rise in passenger traffic and number of airlines operating from here. As many as 74 lakh people traveled through Cochin Airport during last calendar year. Passenger traffic was 61.045 lakh the previous year,which means an increase of 21.48 per cent.

Now 24 airlines operate from CIAL, which witnessed 56,196 aircraft movements in the last financial year. There is a growth of eight per cent in this. "The new international terminal, with typical Kerala feel in the exterior and most modern facilities inside, is a New Year gift for the passengers," said Kurian, who is also founding Managing Director of CIAL.