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Port Blair Airport, located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, was renamed Veer Savarkar International Airport. Veer Savarkar International Airport is situated 2km south of the city of Port Blair and is the only civil enclave in the area. The airport was officially declared international in 2007 and is owned by the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence. The passenger terminal is operated by the Airports Authority of India.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Former name | Port Blair Airport |
| Current name | Veer Savarkar International Airport |
| Location | Port Blair, Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India |
| Year of renaming | 2007 |
| Owner | Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence |
| Operator | Airports Authority of India (AAI) |
| Year of construction | 2014-2023 |
| Year of inauguration | 2023 |
| Area | 98,622m² (1,061,558ft²) |
| Built area | 40,837m² |
| Height | 32m |
| Cost | Rs.7.1bn ($86.4m) or Rs.708 crore |
| Capacity | 5 million passengers annually |
| Purpose | To improve connectivity, boost tourism, and provide economic and employment opportunities |
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What You'll Learn
Veer Savarkar International Airport
The airport is named after Veer Savarkar, a staunch advocate of Hindutva and a proponent of the idea of a Hindu Rashtra. Savarkar is remembered for his contributions to the Indian independence movement and his endurance during his incarceration in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. In 1909, he was arrested in London for his revolutionary activities against British rule in India and sentenced to two life terms and 50 years of rigorous imprisonment. He was moved to the Cellular Jail in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, where he endured harsh conditions and brutal treatment.
The new integrated terminal building at Veer Savarkar International Airport was inaugurated in July 2023, with operations beginning formally in August 2023. The terminal was constructed with an investment of approximately Rs7.1 billion ($86.4 million) and can handle five million passengers annually. The project promotes tourism, boosts economic growth in the region, and creates employment opportunities. The terminal building is built upon a plot area of 98,622 square metres, with three floors and a height of 32 metres. The upper ground floor is used for passenger arrival and departure, while the first floor serves as a waiting and security hold area for international passengers. The airport has a VIP lounge, providing free Wi-Fi, drinks, snacks, and comfortable seating.
The airport has excellent connections to major Indian cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai, Kolkata, and Bangalore. It also has regular flights to and from South Indian cities, including Chennai, Visakhapatnam, and Cochin. The building and expansion of the airport have impacted the surrounding region's real estate sector, increasing demand for hotels and resorts and raising property values in the neighbourhood. Veer Savarkar International Airport is expected to improve connectivity between the Andaman and Nicobar Islands and the mainland, promoting the region as a premium tourist destination.
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Port Blair's history
Port Blair, officially named Sri Vijaya Puram, is the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India in the Bay of Bengal. It is the local administrative subdivision (tehsil) of the islands, the headquarters for the district of South Andaman, and the territory's only notified town.
Port Blair has a rich history, dating back to the 19th century when it was a renovated penal colony for the British. Construction began in November 1857, and the penal colony was originally located on Viper Island. The convicts, mostly political prisoners, faced harsh conditions, cruel treatment, and life imprisonment with hard labour. Many perished due to disease, starvation, and hangings. As the Indian independence movement gained momentum in the late 19th century, the Cellular Jail was constructed between 1896 and 1906 to incarcerate Indian freedom fighters, including Veer Savarkar, who spent time in the jail after his arrest in 1909 for his revolutionary activities.
During World War II, Port Blair was occupied by Japanese forces on March 23, 1942, without opposition. From 1943 to 1944, it served as the headquarters of the Azad Hind government under Subhas Chandra Bose. British forces returned to the islands in October 1945. Port Blair was also affected by the 2004 Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami but remained functional, serving as a base for relief efforts.
Today, Port Blair is a vibrant city with a population of over 100,000 people, as per the 2011 India census. It is a multilingual and multicultural city with Hinduism, Christianity, and Islam as the main religions. The city has an average literacy rate higher than the national average. Port Blair is also the entry point for all tourism-related activities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. It boasts several museums, including the Samudrika Naval Marine Museum, and natural attractions like Corbyns Cove Beach and North Bay Island. The city is served by Veer Savarkar International Airport (formerly known as Port Blair Airport), which was declared international in 2007. The airport has recently undergone significant upgrades, including a new integrated terminal building inaugurated in July 2023, enhancing its capacity and improving connectivity to the region.
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The airport's new terminal
Port Blair Airport, also known as Veer Savarkar International Airport, is located in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. The airport was renamed after Veer Savarkar, a proponent of the idea of a Hindu Rashtra and a staunch advocate of Hindutva. Savarkar was also known for his endurance during his incarceration in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
The airport underwent a major transformation with the inauguration of its new integrated terminal building in July 2023. The new terminal is a state-of-the-art, shell-shaped structure with a sustainable design and modern infrastructure. It spans a plot area of 98,622 square metres, with three floors and a total built-up area of 40,837 square metres. The height of the building reaches 32 metres, making it a prominent landmark.
The new terminal is designed to handle a significant increase in passenger traffic, with a capacity to accommodate up to 1,200 passengers during peak hours, including 600 domestic and 600 international travellers. The upper ground floor, covering 21,026.82 square metres, efficiently manages passenger arrival and departure, while the first floor serves as a waiting and security hold area for international passengers. The lower ground floor provides a spacious bus lounge and a dedicated service and remote arrival area.
The terminal boasts a stunning design inspired by the surrounding sea and islands, featuring a double-insulated roof, skylights, LED lighting, and low heat gain glazing for enhanced sustainability. The airport is now equipped with a rainwater catchment area, an on-site sewage treatment plant, and a 500 KW solar power plant, contributing to its environmentally friendly approach.
The new terminal has also enhanced the airport's connectivity and accessibility, improving communication with the mainland and the world. This development is expected to boost tourism and provide economic benefits to the region, including the creation of employment opportunities. The airport's proximity to Port Blair, the capital city of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, further enhances its strategic importance as a gateway for tourists exploring the islands.
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The airport's design and infrastructure
Port Blair Airport, officially known as Veer Savarkar International Airport, is located 2km south of the city of Port Blair in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, India. It is the territory's only notified town and the capital city of the islands. The airport was renamed in 2002 after Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, who had been imprisoned in the city for 11 years during India's freedom struggle.
The airport has undergone significant upgrades to its infrastructure in recent years, with the Indian government investing in the region's connectivity and economic growth. The modernisation and expansion of the airport included the construction of a new integrated terminal building, inaugurated in July 2023, with operations commencing in August 2023. The new terminal covers 40,837 square metres and has a capacity of up to 1,200 passengers during peak hours, including 600 domestic and 600 international passengers. The annual footfall is expected to be 40 lakh passengers, with a total of five million passengers annually.
The terminal building is built upon a plot area of 98,622 square metres, with three floors and a height of 32 metres. The lower ground floor serves as a bus lounge and a service and remote arrival area, covering 13,672.3 square metres. The upper ground floor, spanning 21,026.82 square metres, facilitates passenger arrival and departure. The first floor is designated as a waiting and security hold area for international passengers.
The airport's design incorporates energy-saving measures, including skylights to optimise natural light and reduce the need for artificial lighting during the day, motion sensors to regulate lighting and air conditioning, and LED lighting installed to decrease overall energy consumption. The terminal building is constructed using 6,500 tons of steel, assembled with 400-ton cranes. The intricate design of the steel trusses and columns showcases the complexity of engineered end connections, achieved through a machined steel casting process.
The airport has a single runway, 3,290 metres in length, accommodating most narrow-body aircraft, including Airbus A320, Airbus A321, and Boeing 737. The airport is owned by the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence, while civilian terminals are operated by the Airports Authority of India.
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The airport's impact on the region
Port Blair Airport, now known as Veer Savarkar International Airport, has had a significant impact on the region since it was declared an international airport in 2007. The airport is located 2km south of the city of Port Blair, the capital of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, a union territory of India in the Bay of Bengal.
As the only airport in the region, Veer Savarkar International Airport plays a crucial role in connecting the Andaman and Nicobar Islands to the mainland of India. It is a two to three-hour flight from mainland India to Port Blair, making it a convenient gateway for tourists and visitors to the islands. The airport also serves as a civil enclave, owned by the Indian Navy and the Ministry of Defence, with the passenger terminal operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).
The airport has had a positive impact on the region's economy, particularly in the tourism industry. Port Blair is the entry point for all tourism-related activities in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The airport has made the islands more accessible to domestic and international visitors, leading to an increase in tourist arrivals. This has resulted in a boost to the local economy, with tourists spending money on accommodation, food, transportation, and other tourist services.
In addition to its economic impact, the airport has also contributed to the region's infrastructure development. The construction of the new integrated terminal building, which began in September 2014 and was inaugurated in July 2023, is a notable example. The project cost approximately Rs7.1 billion ($86.4 million) and can handle five million passengers annually. It has modern facilities, including a rainwater catchment system, an on-site wastewater treatment plant, and a solar power plant, showcasing the region's commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation.
The airport has also played a role in relief efforts during natural disasters. In 2004, Port Blair was affected by the Indian Ocean earthquake and tsunami, but it was able to survive and act as a base for relief operations in the islands. This highlights the airport's importance as a logistical hub for emergency response and humanitarian aid.
In conclusion, Veer Savarkar International Airport has had a profound impact on the region, economically, socially, and infrastructurally. It has boosted tourism, created employment opportunities, and improved the overall connectivity and development of the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The airport continues to play a vital role in promoting the region's growth and prosperity.
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Frequently asked questions
Port Blair Airport was renamed Veer Savarkar International Airport and was officially declared international in 2007.
Veer Savarkar is remembered as a staunch advocate of Hindutva and a proponent of the idea of a Hindu Rashtra. He was arrested in 1909 in London for his revolutionary activities against British rule in India and was imprisoned in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.
Veer Savarkar International Airport is located 2km south of the city of Port Blair and can be accessed through National Highway 223 and State Highway 11.
The Airports Authority of India manages the civilian terminals, while the Indian Navy manages all other air traffic operations.
