Mumbai airport's T2 takes off

PM Manmohan Singh inaugurates new integrated terminal at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Friday inaugurated Mumbai airport’s new integrated terminal, Terminal 2 (T2), at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport. With this, Mumbai joins Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore that have modern integrated terminals. Singh said the new terminal would set global benchmarks in efficiency and safety.

The terminal will open for international passenger operations from February 12.

Spread over 400,000 sq metre, the imposing glass and granite terminal, seen as the GVK Group’s showpiece project, will enhance passenger amenities, reduce immigration and security check delays, apart from offering a wider shopping and dining options. The new terminal has an aesthetic appeal, too, with a three-km long art wall, peacock inspired design, landscaping and gardens. (GET, SET, GO)

GVK Reddy, chairman of the GVK group, which is executing Mumbai airport’s modernisation project, said the group had overcome challenges and land constraints in building the terminal. He said the current challenge was the rehabilitation of slums around the airport.

T2 is also expected to give the Mumbai airport a revenue boost. In FY2013, Mumbai International Airport Limited posted a revenue of Rs 1,478 crore and a net profit of Rs 155 crore.

The launch of T2 marks the close of airport modernisation’s first phase. Work began in 2006 but the project was mired in delays and the cost escalated from Rs 9,800 crore to over Rs 12,000 crore. Mumbai’s infrastructure story is full of  unfulfilled promises and missed deadlines. The trans-harbour sea link, the second airport, metro rail network, are examples of slow moving projects in the commercial capital of the country.

“Mumbai has a long history of aviation and T2 is its latest example,” says aviation historian Anuradha Reddy.

J R D Tata’s flight from Karachi to Mumbai in October 1932 shaped the aviation history of India and led to the birth of Tata Airlines, renamed Air India later.

“Mumbai’s importance in aviation grew post 1947, as it became the base for Air India and replaced Karachi as an airport for the hinterland,” adds Reddy.

However, lack of planning and neglect in recent period has resulted in Mumbai losing its advantage. The city lost the tag of being the busiest airport to Delhi, which developed a new terminal and third runway in 2010.

T2 will increase Mumbai airport’s capacity to 40 million (from the existing 30 million a year) and improve its prospects as an aviation hub.

“I think airlines are going to be attracted to Mumbai, the city being India’s commercial centre. Currently, there is a good mix of carriers but we are targeting long-haul airlines connecting Europe and the US and emerging markets such as China, Africa and South America,” GVK group Vice-Chairman Sanjay Reddy said in an interview to routesnews magazine last year.

GVK is seeking new services to Manila, Ho Chi Minh city, Jakarta, Beijing, Guangzhou, Moscow and Tehran in the next one or two years, followed by services to Rome, Lisbon, Manchester and Seoul, the routesnews report said.