On Friday (20th February) Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel announced a new integrated passenger terminal building at Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport at Sahar. In the presence of Patel and the Maharashtra Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, the ground breaking ceremony was performed in Mumbai. The new integrated passenger terminal building at Mumbai Airport will cater to both domestic and international passengers.

 

According to some close sources, the terminal building will have a total floor area of approximately 4.3 million square meters spread across four levels. It will take care of the increased number of passengers of Mumbai airport. Mumbai airport is India's busiest airport with passenger traffic of 25.8 million per annum.

 

While addressing the media persons Patel said that, the problem with the aviation industry in India is due to the global slowdown in the economic recession which has lowered the international traffic as well as the domestic traffic. He, however, assured that the government has taken a number of steps including reduction of duty on Aviation Turbine Fuel (ATF).