President Inaugurates Integrated Airport Terminal at Raipur

     Raipur, November 07, 2012: President of India Pranab Mukherjee today dedicated the Rs 135 crore Integrated Passenger Terminal Complex of Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur.

     The new terminal would not only support the growth and prosperity of Chhattisgarh but also that of the country as a whole, Mukherjee said in a function in the presence of Governor Shekhar Dutt and Chief Minister Dr Raman Singh.

    Chief Minister Singh in his speech demanded a statue of Swami Vivekananda in the Airport, which was immediately accepted by Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh.

     The Chief Minister also announced to give 430 acre land for the extension of the Raipur Airport.

     The Rs 135.72 crore building has the capacity to serve 700 passengers, equipped with centralised air-conditioning system, five lifts, three escalators, sophisticated CCTV, public address system, firefighting equipments and two aero bridges.

     The President also wished the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India all success in their endeavours for building state-of-the-art infrastructure in the country.

     Justifying the naming of Raipur Airport, Mukherjee said he was extremely happy that Raipur Airport has been named after the saint, philosopher and visionary Swami Vivekananda.

       After Kolkata, Raipur was the place where Swami Vivekananda had spent largest number of years of his life, he said.

     This year was the 150^th birth anniversary of Swami Vivekananda and also recently civil aviation marked its 100 years in India. It was therefore most appropriate that the Airport be named after him, Mukherjee said.

     After the function the President flew back to Delhi.