The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar is set for a monumental upgrade, with its proposed Terminal 3 (T3) undergoing a significant redesign and receiving an estimated ₹1,000 crore boost. This substantial investment will see T3 transformed into a state-of-the-art, integrated facility, moving away from earlier plans for segregated arrival and departure terminals.

The decision to redesign T3 as a standalone integrated facility, consolidating both arrival and departure operations under one roof, comes after extensive consultations with stakeholders. This strategic shift aims to streamline passenger flow, enhance operational efficiency, and significantly improve the overall travel experience at BPIA.

"In a meeting with stakeholders, we decided that it (T3) will be designed to handle both arrivals and departures. Segregation would have brought difficulties in handling passengers and other operations at both lounges," stated BPIA director Prasanna Pradhan.

The new integrated T3 terminal will span an impressive 65,000 square meters and is designed to handle 8.6 million passengers annually, with a peak capacity of 3,000 passengers per hour. 

This will be a crucial upgrade for an airport that currently witnesses a daily footfall exceeding 15,000 and has seen its Terminal 1, originally designed for 4 million passengers annually, already handling approximately 5 million. 

The expansion aims to increase the airport's overall capacity to 8 million passengers per year in the near future.