The new terminal building at Visakhapatnam International Airport is slowly but steadily being restored. The building suffered extensive damage due to the very severe cyclonic storm Hudhud on October 12, 2014.
Its roof was blown away by the gales, damaging the air-conditioner ducts, CCTV systems, and TV monitors. The new roofing material can now withstand gales up to 250 KMPH. CC cameras are mandatory in the ‘security-hold’ area and the airport authorities have hired cameras temporarily pending replacement of the damaged ones.
The chilly winter months have come in as a blessing to the airport authorities. There is no A/C in the passenger areas as the roofing work is incomplete.
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It’s learnt that the A/C at the terminal building could be partially restored by January 31 but complete restoration of A/C could take much longer for completion.
Of the three aerobridges at the airport, one suffered extensive damage and could take a longer time for repair. “About 60 per cent of the roofing work has been completed. The A/C plant has not been damaged but some of the works like repair of A/C ducts are yet to be completed. We hope to complete total revival of the facilities at the terminal building by February-end,” Airport Director C. Pattabhi told The Hindu on Monday.
It may be recalled that Malindo Air has announced operation of flights thrice a week from Vizag to Kuala Lumpur with effect from February 15. Hope that the terminal building would be completely ready by the time Malindo begins operations from Vizag.
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Better late than never goes the maxim. East Coast Railway (ECoR) has announced a special from Visakhapatnam to Secunderabad hardly 10 days ahead of Pongal.
The holiday crowd has been disappointed with the announcement and withdrawal of a special train to Guntur five days a week. The only reason given for withdrawal of the train was ‘technical problems’.
The announcement of the Secunderabad Special is seen as a move to pacify the agitated festive crowd to some extent. “There is a huge waitlist for Secunderabad and hence we have decided to run a special. The Guntur special was withdrawn due to shortage of A/C coaches,” Divisional Railway Manager Anil Kumar told The Hindu on Monday.
He also said that the halt given to Garibrath from January 14 was uploaded on the IRCTC website. Duvvada Railway Users’ Association secretary K. Eswar, while thanking the Railways for providing the halt, said that the IRCTC website did not show the reservation availability position from Duvvada to Secunderabad from January 14 for any date, when logged on to the site around 7 p.m. on Monday.