The new international terminal of the Chennai airport has been opened to visitors starting Sunday.
Those who want to see off their companions at the terminal can do so by getting a visitor pass from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for Rs. 60 per person. The counter is located just outside the terminal.
On an average, the international terminal receives about 500 visitors a day, a source at the airport said.
Though the new international terminal has been operational since August, visitors were not allowed in, like they were in the old terminal. This didn’t go down well with the passengers and their relatives, who sometimes felt the need for such a facility, especially in cases when senior citizens were travelling alone.
“We decided to restart visitors’ access into the international terminal for good. We have created a limited space for visitors, which they can access through Gate 3. From this space, visitors can watch passengers complete their check-in procedures and enter the security hold area,” said an AAI official.
But this provision is not available at the new domestic terminal. Officials said this was because the international terminal received far more visitors than the domestic one.
While Delhi charges Rs. 100 for visitors’ entry at T3 terminal, Bangalore and Hyderabad airports collect Rs. 80 and Rs. 100 respectively.
