TIRUCHY: The newly constructed terminal in Tiruchy international airport started functioning after the first flight landed on Tuesday. It was accorded water salute as per tradition.

The new terminal was constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 1,100 crore and Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the terminal on January 2 and on Tuesday, all the flight services were operated from the new terminal.

As per schedule, the flights landed at the new terminal from 6 am and a water salute was accorded to the aircrafts as a part of commencement of functioning. The passengers were requested to use the new terminal and get the services and the domestic as well as the international flights would serve from the new terminal, said the officials.

The new terminal, constructed in an area of 75,000 sq metre, can handle at least 44.50 lakh passengers annually. The terminal can handle as many as 3,480 passengers per hour for which as many as 106 immigration counters have been established. Out of a total of 10 aero bridges, five have been under utility in phase 1 and the remaining aero bridges would start functioning within a month, the officials added.

The Tiruchy international airport handled as many as 17.60 lakh passengers including 13.50 lakh international passengers last year. The new terminal can handle as many as 12 flights. As many as 240 flights can arrive and depart in 24 hours.

This apart, the parking bay can handle 750 cars, 250 taxis and 10 buses at a time while 10 gates are allocated for departure and six gates are dedicated from arrival, 60 check-in counters and 40 immigration counters, 15 Xray machines and three VIP Lounges have been established in the new terminal.