New terminal work in progress at Biju Patnaik airport. The new terminal will have good space and better public utility centres. Pictures by Ashwinee Pati

Bhubaneswar, July 10: The Biju Patnaik Airport has undergone an image makeover with new signboards and better public utility centres. Moreover, it is planning to have a “meet and greet” area soon, so that those waiting outside for the arriving passengers will get space to meet them in comfort.

Usually a person, who comes here to either see off or receive the passenger, has to pay entry fee to enter the airport. There is no facility for them who wait outside. Now, there will be a designated space where limited chairs will be provided, so that the elders can sit and wait for their kin to arrive.

The airport authorities are also planning to plant 300 saplings with a large canopy near the car parking area. “We have already received a quick response from the Orissa Forest Development Corporation and they have agreed to supply the required plant varieties soon. By this monsoon, we want to finish the plantation work,” said airport director V.N. Chandran.

“Bhubaneswar is perhaps one of the greenest airports in the country. To retain its greenery, we are also trying our best. Recently, we have diverted a building construction plan from one corner to another only to stop tree-felling,” he said.

This year, the nation is celebrating the 100 years of civil aviation. The city airport has also received the stringent ISO 9001: 2008 and certification from director general of the civil aviation, both of which are important achievement in the aviation sector.

“Earlier, there were no proper signage around the airport and the guests arriving from both the city end or the airport end were found confused. Now, we have erected many informative boards, including one featuring dos and don’ts and listing the prescribed fines for violation. We are going to add another huge location diagram at the airport entrance showing the position of all major institutions in the city as well as a guideline to reach there,” said the airport director.

Zishan Ali, a frequent flyer from the city airport, said: “The revamped airport surrounding and streamlining of the parking area are a welcome step. Once the new terminal will be ready with a straight road from the Capital Hospital end, the airport surrounding will look even better.” Speaking about other public facilities, a senior officer of the Airport Authority of India (AAI) said the newly opened cafeteria had also been planned to have smarter looks. Quality service would be provided there. They were also displaying mandatory price lists.

“We are renovating a toilet outside the terminal area, but even after putting all the fittings for the fourth consecutive time, some unidentified goons are stealing them. We have informed the local police and hope that the culprits will soon be nabbed, as he might have some contacts with the insiders,” said an AAI officer.