Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday inaugurated the integrated terminal building at the Surat International Airport.PM Modi has called this as a major infrastructural upgrade for Surat, boosting ‘Ease of Living’ and ensuring greater commerce for the city and surrounding areas.
The plaque was unveiled by PM Modi at the new terminal building post which he also learnt about its facilities.Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel, Union minister Darshana Jardosh, Lok Sabha member and Bharatiya Janata Party’s state unit chief CR Paatil and state minister Harsh Sanghavi also accompanied PM Modi.
Chaired by Prime Minister Modi, the Union Cabinet earlier this week approved the proposal to declare Surat Airport as an international airport. Apart from serving as a gateway for international travellers the airport will also facilitate seamless export-import operations for the thriving diamond and textile – industries.
The terminal building in Surat is equipped to handle as many as 1,200 domestic passengers and 600 international passengers during peak hours. It also boasts to have provisions for further boost the peak hour capacity to 3,000 passengers and has an annual handling capacity increasing to 55 lakh passengers.
As per Airports Authority of India, the overall capacity of Surat Airport will increase three times once its newly built terminal building is operational.
Further, the airport boasts to have a number of sustainable features including a solar power plant, rainwater harvesting, and low heat gain double glazing units.
The Prime Minister is also going to inaugurate the Surat Diamond Bourse. It will be the world’s largest and most modern centre for international diamond and jewellery businesses. It will be a global centre for trading both rough and polished diamonds as well as jewellery.
Bourse will comprise a state-of-the art ‘Customs Clearance House’ for Import-Export; a jewellery mall for retail jewellery businesses; and a facility for international banking and safe vaults.
Post this, PM Modi will visit Varanasi to participate in the Viksit Bharat Sankalp Yatra at around 3:30 pm.
