New terminal welcomes delegates

A delegate for the World Tamil Conference being received by M. Karunakaran, Joint Managing Director of Aavin and Reception Committee member, at the Coimbatore Airport on Monday. Photo: K. Ananthan

The Airports Authority of India (AAI), Coimbatore on Monday put the new terminal building into use.

Airport Director M.R. Vasudeva and Deputy Commandant of the Central Industrial Security Force , the custodian of airport security, Arun Singh, received passengers at the new terminal building arrival hall at noon.

Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan who arrived here for the World Classical Tamil Conference was one of the first few passengers to walk into the new building.

The terminal building has elevators and escalators.

The Coimbatore Airport, as on date, has the capacity to handle 350 arriving and 350 departing passengers at any point of time.

Domestic arrivals

Domestic arrivals were handled at the new terminal building on Monday. International arrivals will be handled from Wednesday. On Monday, one of the luggage/conveyor belts measuring 60 m started functioning and the remaining two luggage/baggage conveyor belts will start functioning in a few days, Mr. Vasudeva said.

The officials of the reception committee for the World Classical Tamil Conference started receiving domestic and international passengers at the airport by presenting them with a shawl. On arrival, the delegates were briefed on the arrangements made for them and taken to their place of stay.

The reception staff at the airport were led by the District Revenue Officer. Joint Managing Director of Aavin, M. Karunakaran, received the delegates.

Till Monday afternoon, nearly 500 overseas delegates had arrived.