Nagpur airport terminal to get major makeover across 19,500 sq m

The terminal of Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport in Nagpur is set for a major renovation. GMR Nagpur International Airport Limited (GNIAL), the company that runs the airport, is preparing to refurbish about 19,500 sq m of the existing terminal. The aim is to modernise infrastructure, ease passenger movement and improve the overall travel experience. The project will go ahead after the necessary regulatory approvals are received.

GNIAL Chief Executive Officer Shrikant Bhandarkar said financial closure for the project has been achieved, design development is well under way and contractors have been brought on board. According to him, the refurbishment will be an important step towards improving passenger amenities at the airport and meeting the growing expectations of air travellers.

Bhandarkar said work will begin only once the required regulatory approvals are in place. The first phase is expected to be completed within 12 to 18 months of work starting, provided the approvals and the project execution schedule allow it. The timeline will be counted from the date construction begins, not from the date the project was announced. The start of the major refurbishment now hinges only on completion of regulatory formalities.

The proposed changes will focus on improving passenger convenience, reducing crowding at key points and strengthening the terminal's efficiency. Four self bag-drop counters and five self check-in kiosks will be added so passengers can complete essential pre-boarding formalities easily.

Four more X-ray machines will be installed to increase security screening capacity and speed up passenger processing. The kerb area of the forecourt outside the terminal, where passengers are dropped off and picked up, will be expanded to improve access and traffic movement.

The refurbishment also includes upgrading washrooms, separate lounges for domestic and international passengers, and increasing the number of bus boarding gates from two to four. The added bus boarding capacity is expected to give more flexibility in handling passengers and improve boarding.

Meanwhile, GNIAL has made several improvements for passengers over the past three months. Even as preparations for the larger project continue, services have been improved at various touchpoints and passengers' needs have been given attention. Passenger support associates and queue managers have been deployed at key locations to guide passengers, manage queues and help with airport formalities. The processing system of Digi Yatra, which identifies passengers through facial recognition, has also been improved so that travel through the designated checkpoints is easier.

Lighting and landscaping in the terminal have been improved to make the atmosphere more comfortable and welcoming. New carpets have been laid on the aerobridges and fragrance systems have been installed across the terminal.

At the security checkpoint, additional trays and preparation tables have been placed so passengers can arrange their belongings neatly before screening. Trolley availability and baggage services have also been improved. GNIAL has strengthened cleaning and pest control arrangements in the terminal as well. Doctors, paramedics and technicians are available round the clock for passengers' medical needs and other essential help.

Through the proposed refurbishment and the recent improvements, GNIAL wants to pair infrastructure modernisation with better passenger management and facilities. Self-service facilities, additional boarding gates and separate lounges are expected to improve the airport experience once the project is implemented.