Chennai: In an ad hoc measure intended to give passengers arriving at the Chennai international airport more space, authorities are planning to expand the arrival hall by removing the partition between the now-decommissioned Kamaraj domestic terminal and the Anna international terminal, a part of which is still being used.
Chennai, the country’s third busiest international airport, handles about 17 international flights during the day and more than 25 in the night. Though new terminal buildings were inaugurated way back in January 2013, the commissioning of the international arrival hall has been delayed ever since. Instead, passengers are made to exit through the arrival section of the old Anna international terminal (AIT).
Airport officials attribute the delay to various reasons including shortage of customs as well as immigration staff.
In a recently held meeting chaired by the airport director with officials from the customs department, bureau of immigration as well as from the various airlines operating out of Chennai airport, a proposal to modify the existing international arrival hall was discussed. “We are gearing up with the modification of the existing AIT arrival by removing the partition that bifurcates the old domestic arrival and the international arrival hall, that is currently being uses,” airport director H.S. Suresh told Deccan Chronicle in an exclusive interview.
He added, “The draft plan was discussed with the relocation of certain facilities like the duty-free shop, childcare room, CCTV control room, Air India baggage offices and the concessionaires.” The proposal would be firmed up at the next meeting, scheduled for next month.
