Dabolim bids adieu to old terminal

TEAM HERALD

bureau@herald-goa.com

VASCO: The curtains at the old terminal at Dabolim airport finally came down on Wednesday, as domestic and international arrival and departure operations were shifted to the new integrated terminal building (NITB).

Speaking to Herald, Dabolim Airport Director M Suresh stated that international arrival and departure operations have been shifted to the NITB on Wednesday. “Though the entire operation is shifted to the NITB, it will take another five to six days for things to fall in place,” he added.

With regard to other offices like immigration, customs and other airlines, Suresh said offices are already allotted to the respective agencies and only shifting of furniture and other minor adjustments are left, which will be put in place in the coming days.

“I simply cannot furnish the offices and allot it to the immigration and customs, as I have to furnish it according to their needs and once the offices are utilised by the respective agencies, they will be in a better position to bring the discrepancies to my notice which can be easily attended,” he said.

When asked whether there will be child care rooms and other basic facilities to cater the needs of the international passengers, he said they already have a child care facility at the NITB and the NITB will have all the facilities in par with other international 

airports to cater to the needs of passengers.

“Besides duty free shops, the NITB will also have a shopping complex with international brands.”

“The NITB at Dabolim airport is the only one of its kind in the entire country to provide drinking water facilities to the general public outside the airport. There are two fountains of filtered drinking water, one to the right and the other one to the left outside the NITB for the general public.. Provisions are also made for filtered drinking water for passengers inside the NITB,” added Suresh.

When brought to his notice about the rumours that some tiles have sunk inside the NITB, Suresh while putting the rumours to rest said the entire floor of the NITB is fitted with granite and only anti-skidding floor tiles are fitted in the washrooms and all the tiles are intact.

When asked how NITB will tackle power failure, Suresh said the NITB has a standby power supply and during power failure the standby power supply can function for three to four hours.