Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport

Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport

Devi Ahilyabai Holkar Airport is a public airport that principally serves Indore, Madhya Pradesh in Western India. It is the busiest airport in the state of and is located 8 km west of Indore. According to the statistics released by theAirports Authority of India, the agency responsible for the airport, it is the 20th. busiest airport in India.

The airport is named after Maharani Ahilya Bai Holkar of Indore, belonging to the Holkardynasty of the Maratha Empire.

Since 2008, seasonal Hajj charters have begun operating from Indore.

History

The Holkar State Administration, after consulting Mr. Nevill Vintcent of Messrs Tata and Sons (Aviation Department), selected the Bijasan site for the construction of the airport in 1935. Air services from Indore to Gwalior, Delhi and Mumbai began in July 1948. The airport was handed over to the Government of India in April 1950 under the Central Financial Integration Scheme. A new runway measuring 5600 feet in length was completed by March 1966 at a cost of1.5 million to accommodate larger aircraft. Night landing facilities were also provided.

In 2014, Airport slipped from 7th to 9th position and failed to get international tag as it was unable to provide quality amenities to passengers.

Structure

Indore airport measures 729 acres and the current terminal building, spread over 18,000 sq.mtrs. The adjoining concrete aprons have parking bays to cater to 5 ATR-72, 4 Airbus A-321 and 3 Boeing 737 aircraft simultaneously. Indore's sole runway 07/25 is 2750 metres long and 45 metres wide.

The Airfield is equipped with Night Landing Facilities and a CAT- 1 Instrument Landing System (ILS) (on Runway 25 only) as well as Navigational facilities like DVOR/DME and an NDB. The runway is being extended as a part of the expansion plan for the airport.

Terminals

Integrated Terminal

Indore's new expandable integrated terminal building was inaugurated on February 14, 2012. It was built by AAI at a cost of Rs 135 crores and is capable of handling 700 passengers per hour. The new terminal has modern escalators and a high-tech baggage handling system. it will cater to movements of 46 flights every day. In preparation towards the proposed international operations, It will have 16 check-in counters, 16 immigration counters (four for departure and 12 for arrivals) and four counters for customs, apart from 569 CCTVs and X-ray machines for security. As regards the amenities, the terminal would also have two lifts and two escalators conveyor belts for baggage. As per the international standards, it would also have an ATM, a book stall and a food court.

Cargo Terminal

The Cargo terminal of Indore Airport has been linked as a satellite Air-cargo Complex (ACC) to CSIA, Mumbai and IGIA, New Delhi in Custom bonded Closed Body Trucks (CBTs). The Catchment area of ACC, Indore comprising Indore, Pithampur, Dewas, Mandideep,Bhopal, Nagda, Ghat Bilod, Dhamnod, Sarangpur, Ratlam, etc.