<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the new integrated terminal building at the Veer Savarkar International Airport in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on July 18.</p>.<p>Operations at the new terminal building of the Port Blair airport will begin on Monday (August 21), officials said.</p>.<p>A special programme has been organised at the new terminal to mark the commencement of operations, said an Airport Authority of India (AAI) official.</p>.<p>Besides tribal dance forms, the flyers will be welcomed with bouquets and traditional 'aarti and tilak' on the first day, he told <em>PTI.</em></p>.Airlines can use empty-bellied jumbos to lift luggage limits.<p>Nicobari traditional hats made of palm fronds will also be gifted to them, he added.</p>.<p>The new terminal, which is shaped like a shell depicting the natural environs of the islands, has been built at a cost of Rs 707.73 crore.</p>.<p>The terminal, which has a total built-up area of 40,837 sq metres, has 100 per cent natural lighting. It has a capacity to handle 1,200 passengers during peak hours, and around 40 lakh passengers annually.</p>.<p>The three-storey building is equipped with 28 check-in counters, 12 immigration counters, 3 passenger boarding bridges and 4 conveyor belts. The new apron at the airport has the facility to park 10 aircraft.</p>.<p>Soon after the inauguration, a portion of the airport's false ceiling fell off due to heavy winds after they were loosened for the installation of CCTV cameras. </p>
<p>Prime Minister Narendra Modi virtually inaugurated the new integrated terminal building at the Veer Savarkar International Airport in Andaman and Nicobar Islands on July 18.</p>.<p>Operations at the new terminal building of the Port Blair airport will begin on Monday (August 21), officials said.</p>.<p>A special programme has been organised at the new terminal to mark the commencement of operations, said an Airport Authority of India (AAI) official.</p>.<p>Besides tribal dance forms, the flyers will be welcomed with bouquets and traditional 'aarti and tilak' on the first day, he told <em>PTI.</em></p>.Airlines can use empty-bellied jumbos to lift luggage limits.<p>Nicobari traditional hats made of palm fronds will also be gifted to them, he added.</p>.<p>The new terminal, which is shaped like a shell depicting the natural environs of the islands, has been built at a cost of Rs 707.73 crore.</p>.<p>The terminal, which has a total built-up area of 40,837 sq metres, has 100 per cent natural lighting. It has a capacity to handle 1,200 passengers during peak hours, and around 40 lakh passengers annually.</p>.<p>The three-storey building is equipped with 28 check-in counters, 12 immigration counters, 3 passenger boarding bridges and 4 conveyor belts. The new apron at the airport has the facility to park 10 aircraft.</p>.<p>Soon after the inauguration, a portion of the airport's false ceiling fell off due to heavy winds after they were loosened for the installation of CCTV cameras. </p>