Ashok Gajapathi Raju dedicates New Civil Air Terminal at Bathinda Airport to nation

Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju has dedicated the New Civil Air Terminal at the Bathinda Airport to the nation.

It was done in the presence of Union Minister of Food Processing Industries Harsimrat Kaur Badal, Punjab Deputy Chief Minister Sardar Sukhbir Singh Badal, Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha, Minister of State for Social Justice and Empowerment Vijay Sampla, AAI chairman Dr Guruprasad Mohapatra, CMD Air India Ashwani Lohani and other dignitaries.

The Union Minister of Civil Aviation took a walk through along with the other dignitaries and unveiled plaque in the Civil Air Terminal.

Speaking on the occasion, Raju said that the new terminal and the flight connectivity will not only boost passenger travel but also be a multiplier for the overall economic growth of the region.

"These new facilities are a fitting tribute to the indomitable Punjabi spirit," he added.

The New Civil Air Terminal is spread in the area of 1,200 sq. mtrs.

The terminal has been constructed at a total cost of Rs. 2,500 crores.

The terminal is equipped to handle 100 passengers (50 Departure + 50 Arrival) with modern passenger facilities such as two (2) Check-in-counters, one (1) Security Check X-Ray Machine, one (1) Arrival Baggage Conveyor Belt, one (1) Reserved VIP Lounge with Car Parking and Apron for two (2) ATR-72-600 type aircraft.

The terminal is made of glass and steel structure with facilities such as Public Address System, CCTV for surveillance, Fire Fighting System, Dedicated Power Supply with standby DG Sets, etc. Canopy on the city side integrate seamlessly with the main building giving due protection to the passengers from adverse weather conditions.

The facility will immensely contribute towards the connectivity in the State in particular and give impetus to economic development of the region.

The Alliance Air (a wholly owned subsidiary of Air India) had launched its first flight on Delhi-Bathinda-Delhi sectors with brand new ATR72-600 type of aircraft having 70 seats.

The flight will operate on Wednesdays, Fridays and Sundays.

The Alliance Air has ensured that flights are operated regularly on this sector.

The Alliance Air will increase the flight frequency once the current flight operations stabilized and fog conditions abate.

The Alliance Air is also looking at starting flights from Ludhiana and Pathankot in the near future.