Port Blair, Aug. 23: Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Shri K. C. Venugopal informed the Lok Sabha today that the projected date of completion of new terminal building of Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair is December, 2017 and is scheduled for commissioning by March, 2018.

The requirement of land projected initially by Airports Authority of India (AAI) for construction of a new terminal building of Veer Savarkar International Airport at Port Blair was 26.50 acres, which was reduced to 18.71 acres on the request of the Andaman & Nicobar Administration. While 10.60 acres of land have been handed over by the Andaman & Nicobar Administration and PWD to AAI, the process is on for obtaining working permission for 4.72 acres of land from the Indian Navy. The remaining 3.39 acres of land is still to be acquired.

Veer Savarkar International Airport belongs to Indian Navy and AAI maintains a Civil Enclave at this airport for handling civil operations. Air traffic services are provided by Indian Navy at this airport. The present watch hours are from 0545 hours to 1605 hours. (PIB)