Kochi: The new international airport terminal, set to be launched in March, will boost the most advanced baggage handling and security screening system which will benefit fliers to the United States and certain European countries. “These countries have adopted strict security standards and use procedures modelled after those of the Transportation Security Administration (TSA). The new terminal will have CT based in-line scanners, the first for an airport in Asia, for baggage screening that is in line with the TSA specification,” a senior airport official said.
The flyers need to undertake only one baggage screening upon flying out of the new terminal. Currently those flying to the US need to undergo another security check and baggage screening at intermediate stopovers like Dubai. “Though there is no direct flight to the US, an average 450 passengers daily travel to that country from here using connection flights. They will not have to redo the baggage screening exercise at stop-over points,” the official said.
Under the most advanced baggage-screening facility set up at a cost of '158.43 crore, four 360 degree CT based scanners with 3D Imaging facility will give detailed description of the baggage. The five-level security system also includes metal detectors, Explosives Detection Devices and Bomb disposal equipment using robotic control among others. The covered car parking facility with solar panels over it is another unique initiative of the CIAL. While 2,100 cars can be parked in the 13-acre facility, 2.5 MW electricity can be daily generated. This is in addition to the solar plant facility where the power generated daily will be increased to 30 MW from the current 15 MW.
