The illuminated integrated terminal at Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi looks inviting on Wednesday evening. Pictures by Prashant Mitra

The wait has been worth it.

After missing three deadlines since its birth in 2009, the new integrated terminal building of Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi has finally come of age, complete with gloss, glass, greens and much more.

Come Sunday, the sprawling 19,676sqm terminal — built at a cost of Rs 138-crore — will be commissioned for operations at a high-profile evening ceremony. The first take-off is expected on Tuesday (March 26). Jet Airways flight 9W 615 will reach Ranchi from Calcutta at 11.40am and leave for Delhi around noon.

Airport officials said the integrated terminal, which will also cater to international flights, would taxi a long way to build Brand Jharkhand.

“In 2010-11, our airport handled 0.36 million passengers. A year later, we registered a growth of 36.1 per cent with 0.49 million passengers. The state is mineral-rich and a favourite with industries. So, MICE tourism will boom. Besides, it is now a perfect pitch for various disciplines of sport, particularly cricket. Hence, both domestic and international traffic will grow to cheer Brand Jharkhand,” said a senior official.

With just two days to go for D-Day, A.S.R.P. MUKESH gives you the preview of an airport terminal that is world-class and yet makes you feel at home

The wide arrival & departure gates

Drive in easy

A 40-feet-wide road, measuring around 500 metres from the main gate, promises hassle-free entry into and exit from the new integrated terminal in Ranchi. Two parking lots — one old and another new — can host around 400 vehicles at any given point of time. The facilities are 800 metres from the main approach road, so, goodbye snarls of the past

A signboard at the transit lounge

First look

Smart and sexy.

Birsa Munda Airport’s swank makeover is actually engineering marvel. It is made of RCC framed structures, which is basically an assembly of slabs, beams, columns and foundation interconnected to each other as a unit for effective load transfer to the soil.

The umbrella-like glass and steel roof is supported on a tubular space frame. The play of space with selected double height areas such as the check-in hall, baggage claim and visitors’ concourse on the ground floor and departure lounges on the first floor allow natural lighting and create an appeal.

A water harvesting system inside the facility is an added USP

A good sign

Radium display boards are strategically installed across the terminal — be it outside at the parking bays and entry and exit gates or inside at waiting and transit lounges. In short, you won’t get lost or miss a flight even if you wish to!

A tribal mural before security check

The folk connection

The splendid interiors of the integrated terminal building are teeming with tribal artwork. Murals of chhau, dokra and terracotta figurines and canvases of Sohrai, Jadupatia and Pyatkar paintings form the bulk of décor. State flower palash also has pride of place in internal glazed partitions

One of the two VIP lounges

Hang out for VIPs & CIPs

There are three elite lounges. Made of glass for uninterrupted view, two are reserved for VIPs — one is on the ground floor and the other on the first floor. They flaunt king-size couches, private toilets for men and women and wall television sets. Next to the VIP lounge on the ground floor is its equally ritzy cousin for CIPs or commercially important persons. The old terminal had only one VIP lounge

One of the four childcare rooms

Mommy’s day at the airport

Four special rooms for childcare are among the many USPs of the new terminal. The old terminal had none

The row of check-in counters

A CUTE system

Around 14 check-in kiosks have been set up with the CUTE system or common user terminal equipment, which will allow passengers to collect boarding passes from any counter irrespective of the airline they are flying

Rest assured

For pilots and airport guests who have to deal with long waiting hours during transit, there are four retiring rooms in the upper tier of the building. Each is a double-bed facility

Smokers welcome

Unlike the old terminal, the integrated building has two dedicated smoking chambers — one each on the ground and first floors

The eatery on the first floor

Fun munch

A big glass restaurant on the first floor is preparing to dish out Indian and continental fare. For those looking for quick grub, there are six snack counters on radar. One is reserved for milk, milk products and sweets

Hop & shop

A duty-free store has been laid out on the first floor, beside the restaurant. The racks are still empty, but officials promise they will soon be one of the biggest draws.

For bookworms, there is a store near check-in counters. The security-hold area is landscaped and boasts an installation of tribal village life.

It has a coffee shop, a pearl and jewellery store, a music address and a garment shop

Mind that waste

Roughly, around 500 disposal bins will dot the sprawling new airport premises to prevent littering. Officials said that round-the-clock cleaning squads would also be pressed into service once flight operations begin

Tribal painting at the women’s loo

Toilet test

Qualified with distinction. Eight toilets for men, women and the disabled are in place near waiting lounges, the security-hold and post-check-in areas. They are spacious, well-lit and sport tribal art too

Plush seats at the waiting lounge

Wait, watch or walk

The seating area is neat and smart. You can watch flights take off through the impressive floor-to-ceiling glass walls.

The floors promise to be squeaky clean and little carpeted stretches at departure gates will lend elegance. Giant display boards won’t let you miss your flight even if get carried away by the splendour around.

Near the terminal manager’s cabin, there is a freehold area if you choose to do some brisk walking before a long flight

One of the two aerobridges

Bridge to board

The twin glass (outside) and concrete (inside) aerobridges look totally dandy. But, they may not be put to use anytime soon because airport and airline officials are still working out the nitty-gritty

 

 

KNOW YOUR AIRPORT

One of the five escalators leading to the first floor

New terminal area: 19,676sqm

Peak-hour capacity: 700 (domestic 500, international 200)

Check-in counters: 14

Immigration counters: 2 (departure and arrival)

Customs kiosks: 2 (departure and arrival)

Baggage handling system: 3 flat carousels for at arrival, inline compatible slider bed at departure

Escalators: 5

Elevators: 5

Aircraft parking bay: 5

First aid: one medical inspection room

Aerodrome rescue & firefighting category: CAT VII

Landing facility: up to ‘C’ type of aircraft (A321); night landing facilities available

Security & safety: 8ft-high perimeter, security gates, watchtower & fire station

Current destinations: Delhi, Mumbai, Calcutta and Patna (international none so far)