After Delhi, Hyderabad and Bangalore, Mumbai is now home to a state-of-the-art swanky, upscale, world-class airport terminal. The new integrated terminal (T2) constructed at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport (CSIA), was dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh on January 10. Built at a cost of Rs. 5,200 crore by the Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd (MIAL), a joint venture between the GVKled consortium and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), the much-awaited terminal has given a new lease of life to India’s busiest and landlocked airport. The size of 27 footballs fields, the new terminal measures 4.4 million sq. ft and can handle 40 million passengers annually while the T3 at Indira Gandhi International Airport New Delhi can handle 34 million passengers and Changi Airport can handle 70 million paasengers.

The world-class terminal has 208 check-in counters, 60 migration counters, 124 security check posts, 161 elevators, a day hotel and one transit hotel, automated baggage system capable of handling 9,600 bags per hour, 2,00,000 sq. ft. landscaped garden and a dedicated six-lane elevated 3.2 km elevated expressway shortening travel time to T2 from Western Express Highway. Spread over 1,400 acres, the airport can accomodate 21,743 passengers, while the Delhi airport spread over 5,123 acres can accomodate 6,777 passengers. T2 also features an Airport Joint Control Centre that will house all stakeholders from security to airline officials and airport operations including to facilitate collaborative and speedy decision-making, which is new and first in India.

Inaugurating the new integrated terminal (T2) at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at Mumbai, Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh said, “This terminal is expected to establish new global benchmarks of functional efficiency and operational safety for airports. It also exemplifies our ability as a nation to build world-class infrastructure.” He added that with the commissioning of Terminal 2, the Chhatrapati Shivaji Airport has become code F compliant and is now ready to handle A380 type aircraft operations.

“The construction of the new terminal is yet another shining example of successful execution of large infrastructure projects under the public-private partnership (PPP) model which our government has encouraged in recent years. I am very happy that the PPP model has worked particularly well in the civil aviation sector, with five PPP airports now handling about 57 per cent of the passenger traffic and about 70 per cent of the cargo in our country. The success of Terminal 2 should give a boost to other PPP projects in the country, which are under implementation or are at the planning stage.”

The inspiration for the design of Terminal 2 has been taken from India’s national bird—the peacock. The architecture of the new airport terminal reflects India’s rich cultural heritage. Throughout T2, there are fixtures and details, such as 1,000 chandeliers inspired by the lotus flower, a diya curtain with 10,000 diyas waiting to welcome international travellers and the checkin hall which is inspired by 1,000 white peacocks in the sky.

The new airport terminal will showcase India’s largest public art programme, representing India’s unique tale of incredible cultural and historical diversity. Titled ‘Jaya He’, the threekm multi-storied art wall lightened up by skylights, has 7,000 pieces of artwork and artifacts from every region of the country. It captures the expanse, depth and beauty of Indian art, craft and cultural heritage. G.V. Sanjay Reddy, Managing Director, GVK Mumbai International Airport Pvt. Ltd (MIAL), said, “The new Terminal 2 at CSIA is a monument to the beautiful spirit of Mumbai and its people. This terminal will make CSIA a gateway to the city of Mumbai and India with international and domestic passengers. This is an airport that will redefine global benchmarks in aviation and airport development. The prevalence of local art and culture, coupled with the use of warm colours and elegant accents, elevates the ambience of this terminal beyond the typical, often unimaginative airport experience, to create a sense of place and identity that truly celebrates India.”

Featuring a highly compact design by the Chicago-based architects Skidmore, Owungs and Merrill (SOM) A, it has 15-metre-tall cable-stayed glass wall; 11 acre long-span mega roof supported by only 30 columns, 1.85 million sq. ft. of granite used; skylight glass, enough to cover Wimbledon’s Centre Court six times over; four km of LED lighting and the largest multilevel car parking lot having a capacity to park 5,200 cars.

MIAL was awarded the task of modernising, upgrading and expanding the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport in May 2006. According to GVK, the cost incurred by GVK in building T2 is lowest as compared to similar airport projects in India as well as across the world. Dr G.V.K. Reddy, Executive Chairman of MIAL, said, “The opening of Terminal 2 is one of the most important milestones in the history of CSIA as well as Mumbai. Terminal 2 reiterates our commitment towards building a better India for the present as well as for future generations.”

Praising MIAL, the Prime Minister said, “I compliment Mumbai International Airport Limited for building this state-ofthe-art facility. The entrepreneurial skills of G.V.K. Reddy and his colleagues are truly first-class. I am aware that they have overcome serious challenges that arise in expansion and upgradation of Brownfield airports, especially in a land constrained city like Mumbai. It is even more creditable that they have ensured that the ongoing airport operations were not affected even while this project was being implemented.”

Special efforts have been made to make the T2 environmentfriendly. A GVK communiqué stated, “Terminal 2 was built to be highly energy and water efficient. Sewage recycling, water recycling and rain water harvesting technologies will contribute to a 20 per cent reduction in water use. Using a high-performance glazing system with a custom frit pattern, T2 achieves optimal thermal performance and mitigates glare. Perforated metal panels on the terminal’s curtain wall filter the low western and eastern sun angles, creating a comfortable day-lit space for waiting passengers, and responsive daylight controls balance outdoor and indoor light levels for optimal energy savings. Combined with strategically-placed skylights throughout the check-in hall, these will reduce T2’s energy consumption by 23 per cent. The terminal also has a Level 2 accreditation on carbon management by ACI.”

Governor of Maharashtra K. Shankarnarayanan, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture & Food Processing Sharad Pawar, Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences S. Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Praful Patel and Minister of State for Civil Aviation K.C. Venugopal were also present during the inaugural ceremony.

Governor of Maharashtra K. Shankarnarayanan, Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan, Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh, Union Minister for Agriculture & Food Processing Sharad Pawar, Minister of Science and Technology and Earth Sciences S. Jaipal Reddy, Union Minister for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Praful Patel and Minister of State for Civil Aviation K.C. Venugopal were also present during the inaugural ceremony.