Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad, India, divulged its new Eco-Friendly terminal on July 4th, 2010. The terminal was opened for public use on 15th August 2010. Constructed at a cost of Rs 316 crore and over 41000 sq. meters of total floor area, this terminal will host 2,200 passengers per hour, across the arrival and departure terminals. This project has been planned as per International Air Transport Association (IATA) norms for various facilities and intelligent building management systems.

Façade & Skylight

The most distinct feature of the terminal is its skylight that resembles a kite, making a reference to the international annual Kite festival held every year on January 14 in Ahmedabad. The kite-shaped skylights help flood the interiors with ample natural light, along with sheer glass and louvered facades.

The surrounding surface area is a membrane of ceiling finish from below and roofing above. With trapezoidal-shaped frames, the three dimensional compositions will taper to a single node at the middle of the roof.

The terminal has 32 check-in counters that can be used by any of the airlines, five conveyor belts for smooth flow of baggage, four aerobridges, seven elevators, two information booths, besides several escalators.

Includes a 51,975 sq m new apron (aircraft parking space) which facilitates the parking of nine A-321 and four ATR-72 type of aircraft.

Energy Efficiency

•  Air conditioning is concentrated only in the first 3m to 4m of space, being a measure to improve the energy efficiency. Moreover, Air-conditioned is carried out with energy-efficient devices.
• Terminal is equipped with software-enabled aerodrome operation control centre for optimum utilisation of resources like energy.
• There are fountains inside and outside the building. It has sewage treatment plant to recycle water that could be used for horticulture and air-conditioning
•  Constructed with steel frames and glass, the terminal does not require any artificial light during the day. It also has energy-efficient lights for night time.
•  Also equipped with the state-of-the-art fire-fighting equipment and protection system.

Travelators

This is the only airport in western India to be equipped with underground travelators (walkalators). Travelators has underground link with the existing domestic terminal. Passengers will be able to travel from new to old terminal using the travelators, which are similar to conveyor belts or say horizontal escalator or moving path where they don’t need to walk.

With11 metres wide and 410 metres long, travelators have been put in place in an air-conditioned tunnel at a cost of Rs. 80 crore.

Aerobridges

Next iconic feature of this new terminal is the 4 glass aerobridges with visual docking system. Passengers will be able to easily and comfortably board or alight from the aircraft without even setting foot on the ground because of the aerobridges.

Parking

There is space for 900 cars to be parked, which is double the combined parking capacity of the old domestic and international terminals. The car parking will be handled by electronically operated gates with provision of computerized ticketing.

The airport building has 2 information booths, 5 conveyor belts for arrival, 4 escalators, 7 elevators and two passengers boarding bridge. It also maintains an inline X-ray baggage inspection system integrated with state-of-the-art departure baggage conveyors and carousals type arrival conveyors. New air traffic control tower and new radar will be installed soon.

Having an international airport with international standard add the country’s pride and exemplifies the nation’s growth.