Scindia inaugurates new terminal building at Dehradun

The ₹ 486 crore terminal would have the capacity to handle 47 lakh passengers a year and 3240 passengers during peak hours.

The new Terminal Building at Dehradun Airport was officially opened by Union Minister of Civil Aviation and Steel, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, from New Delhi. The Uttarakhand Chief Minister, Shri Puskar Singh Dhami, attended the function from Dehradun as well.

In his inaugural address, Shri Jyotiraditya M. Scindia says, “The construction of the new terminal building was planned in two phases to provide uninterrupted operations at the airport. After the operationalisation of the first phase of the terminal, measuring 28,729 sq m, and the second phase, measuring 14,047 sq m, the overall area of the terminal has expanded to 42,776 sq m. This way, the overall capacity has gone up by ten times.”

Giving further details on the development effort being done to provide air connectivity, Shri Scindia stated, “The government is upgrading 3 airports in Uttarakhand, i.e., Dehradun, Pant Nagar, and Pithoragarh, and 7 heliports have been started, including Almora, Chinyalisaur, Gauchar, Sahastradhara, New Tehri, Srinagar, and Haldwani Heliports. Development of Dharchula, Haridwar, Joshimath, Mussoorie, Nainital, and Ramnagar heliports is also being done. The number of heliports will be increased to 21 in the upcoming years.”

The airport is going to serve as a hub connecting the various regions of Uttarakhand. In 2004, Dehradun had only three air connections; however, thanks to the efforts of Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the city today has 13 air connections. The number of weekly flight movements at the airport has climbed from 46 in 2014 to 200 currently, representing a 130 percent growth.

Known as Jolly Grant Airport, Dehradun Airport’s New Terminal Building occupies an area of 326.42 acres. The airport, which is 20 kilometres from Rishikesh and 35 kilometres from Haridwar, handles 10 lakh people a year. It is also referred to as the Air Gateway of Garhwal and is significant to Uttarakhand’s tourism industry.

Regarding design and architecture, the Dehradun Airport Terminal is an example of how culture, environment, and contemporary architecture can coexist peacefully. The local environment and legacy served as inspiration for the terminal’s design, which tells a different story for each component. Travellers may experience a distinctive fusion of history and contemporary at the terminal, which is outfitted with all the latest amenities and services while maintaining a focus on sustainability and regional culture.

The curbside canopy’s columns bear a resemblance to the prayer wheels found in Buddhist monasteries. The serene and spiritual atmosphere of the terminal is enhanced by these columns, which are adorned with prayers from the Vedas, which include the revered Gayatri Mantra. The terminal is energy-efficient because of its pillow-shaped ceiling, which provides the ideal height.

Another unique aspect of the terminal is its columns, which were modelled after Uttarakhand’s state flower, the “Brahmakamal.” Like flowers in bloom, these columns open to skylights so that natural light floods the terminal. Lowering the need for artificial illumination, not only improves the terminal’s aesthetic appeal but also helps with its environmental initiatives. The calm atmosphere is further enhanced by the white colour of the columns, which stands for tranquilly.

The terminal has amenities like ramps, elevators, and specially-made restrooms to make it inclusive and accessible for Divyangjans. The terminal, which is expected to be built in two stages to allow for continuous operations at the airport, can accommodate 3240 passengers at peak hours and 47 lakh passengers annually.

Following the first phase of the terminal, which measured 28,729 square metres, it was expanded by 14,047 square metres in the second phase, bringing the total area to 42,776 square metres.
The project’s total anticipated cost, which will be built in two parts, is ₹ 486 Cr. The airport features a 2140-meter runway and an apron with a total of 20 parking spaces.

The New Terminal building is equipped with all passenger amenities, like:

•          48 check-in counters

•          04 conveyor belts

•          12 baggage X-ray machines

•          Parking facility for 500 cars

Other attendees included representatives from the Uttarakhand government and the Ministry of Civil Aviation, as well as Dr. Ramesh Pokhriyal “Nishank,” a member of the Lok Sabha; Naresh Bansal, a member of the Rajya Sabha; and Brij Bhushan Gairola, a member of the Legislative Assembly.

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