KOLKATA/SILIGURI: Bagdogra airport is ready to make a contemporary begin on Tuesday after a fortnight's closure, abandoning the scars of Covid-19. The primary flight will arrive from Delhi at 8am. Half an hour later, the primary flight will depart for Guwahati. The change will likely be seen to passengers as quickly as they stroll into the departure part the place your entire flooring has contemporary granite changing the chipped and stained ones.
"Now we have additionally completed away with the social distancing markings that had been completed on the ground when the terminal resumed operations in Might 2000 after the lockdown," airport director P Subramani advised TOI on the eve of the airport rejoining the aviation map after a 15-day hiatus.

"Flight operations will begin on Tuesday. The Indian Air Power, which operates the airport, has assured us the runway work is almost completed," the director mentioned.
The second perceptible change that passengers will discover is the brand new false ceiling. From the dirty previous ceiling with wires protruding, passengers will likely be greeted by one which elevates the feel and appear of the aged terminal. The third main change is within the glass panels. The brand new look is anticipated to boost the general picture and atmosphere of the airport.
"The area crunch within the terminal will stay until the a lot bigger terminal comes up. However we now have tried to enhance the look of the present one," the official mentioned.
Whereas the refurbishment has been accomplished with clockwork precision, the airport is racing in opposition to time to scrub up the terminal earlier than the primary set of airline workers stroll in at daybreak.
"A 15-day window to refurbish the practically 6,000sqm space is difficult. However we took up the duty as a result of we're unlikely to get such a chance once more. Whereas engaged on the arrival part is less complicated, we wanted this break from passenger motion to do up the departure space that's often very crowded," the director mentioned.
The current terminal, unfold over 8,000sqm, was designed to deal with 7.5 lakh passengers a yr at most. However the flyer rely is nearly four-times that. "Work on the brand new terminal ought to begin in January 2023 and it ought to be prepared by July 2025," mentioned Subramani.