PM to inaugurate new terminal of Tirupati airport today

Prime Minister Narendra Modi would inaugurate on Thursday the new integrated terminal of the Airports Authority of India-run Tirupati airport, that would help further boost connectivity to the famous temple town in southern Andhra Pradesh.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has spent Rs 191 crore to build the new Garuda-shaped terminal which can handle code ‘D’ and code ‘C’ types of aircraft with link taxi, apron and associated infrastructure, the authority said in a statement here. The event would also be graced by Andhra Pradesh Governor E S L Narasimhan, state Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Union Minister for Civil Aviation P Ashok Gajapathi Raju.

The new steel and glass integrated terminal building can handle 500 domestic and 200 international passengers at a time and has a peak-hour handling capacity of 700 passengers built over an area of 16,500 sq m plus 5,500 sq m of basement. It has 18 check-in-counters, four immigration counters, four baggage conveyors for arrival and one for departure, three baggage claim carousels, two VIP lounges, and parking for 250 cars, the statement added.

Meanwhile, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) will organise the first-ever Paragliding World Cup 2015 at Palpung Sherabling Monastic Seat, Bir Billing in Himachal Pradesh. The paragliding will be inaugurated by the Civil Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju on 23rd  October. GAGAN, the GPS based Navigation System developed by AAI and ISRO will be used for accurate navigation and tracking of the paragliders. The World Cup will last till 31st October. The Billing Paragliding Association (BPA), which has been entrusted to organise the event, is leaving no stone unturned to ensure a memorable experience for everyone.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has taken an active interest in organising this event and is the title sponsor of the Paragliding World Cup 2015. AAI has in the recent past been responsible for promoting various Sports in India to help build a sports friendly environment, which is largely untapped. GAGAN - GPS Aided GEO Augmented Navigation is an India SBAS (Satellite Based Augmentation System) Programme jointly developed by India Space Research Organization (ISRO) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) to implement SBAS over India airspace.  AAI has offered to the paragliders to take advantage of GAGAN signals for accurate navigation and tracking facility; for the first time using GAGAN enabled Accord receivers. About 130 of the best paragliders, including those in World’s Top-5, from over 35 countries are set to participate in the championship which will put India firmly on the global paragliding map.