Passenger Handling Capacity to Increase at Leh Airport Amid Rising Tourist Footfall
Airports Authority of India(AAI) to scale up passenger handling capacity of the airport
Nested in the Himalayas at a height of more than 10,000 feet, Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport in Leh connects Ladakh with the rest of the country. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has chosen to scale up the passenger handling capacity of the airport midst of rising tourist footfall in the region.
“The current terminal building which is in an area of 4,500 square meters will be expanded to 19,000 square meters. It will have three aerobridges. It will be equipped with all modern facilities and will be able to handle 2.5 million (25 lakh) passengers annually against the current capacity of 0.8 million (8 lakh) passengers,” Sonam Nurboo, Director of Kushok Bakula Rimpochee Airport, Leh said.
An advanced terminal structure and an apron will be added to the current air terminal at an expense of Rs 480 crores. It will be equipped with a-list offices and the new terminal of Leh air terminal is required to be prepared before the finish of 2022.
Leh airport has been handling flight operations efficiently amid the fight against COVID-19.
The airport ensured that no infected passenger hops on the flight or goes unchecked in the city and thermal screening was conducted for all the passengers. Passengers were also appreciative of the efforts made by the airport authorities to keep Coronavirus at bay.
“According to safety protocol, they did their best. They gave sanitisers and face shields to all. They also followed social distancing and other rules. It is quite good,” Nihal, a tourist said.
