Mumbai gets world class airport terminal

Mumbai, Jan 11: The swanky world class terminal T2 at the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here boasts of arguably the largest art gallery at such a facility, depicting the vibrant mosaic of the country's cultural heritage and varied collage of the city's life.

The four-storey glass marvel, whose design is inspired by a dancing peacock and built at a cost of a whopping Rs 9,800 crore, was today dedicated to the nation by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh.

"This shows our ability to build world class infrastructure. The T2 is truly first class terminal," he said after inaugurating the opulent terminal which would become operational next month.

"It marks the beginning of a new chapter in the growth of civil aviation sector in the country," he said.

The terminal, sprawling across an area of 4.39 lakh sq m, is home to thousands of artefacts and paintings that stretch along a 3-km art wall, aptly named "Jaya He", an eulogy to the rich kaleidoscope of Indian culture.

"Jaya He" gives the visitors a peep into the country's diverse cultural heritage with rows of murals, statues and paintings behind a glass wall. Sparkling fountains and classy installations welcome them.

An attempt has also been made to capture Mumbai's life showcasing its large migrant population hoping to make a living in the city of their dreams.

Another artwork "Tincity", in which a collage of photography and corrugated metal sheets, which dot the city's landscape across numerous slum clusters, have been used, reflects the tenacity of the migrant community living in the bustling city's dark underbelly.

The dancing peacock-themed facility's peacock feather- styled roof leaves one awestruck with special dichroic lights that move with the changing direction of the sun reflecting an array of colours onto the check-in hall's floor.

The new terminal can accommodate 9,900 passengers and has 7 lakh square feet of space for retail, lounges and other travel services.

There are 8 check-in islands, 60 emigration and 72 immigration counters, 52 boarding bridges, 162 lifts, escalators and travellators and landscaping has been done in two lakh sq ft. Besides, it has the largest multi-level covered car parking in the country with a capacity to accommodate 5,000 vehicles.

Shiny granite has been used is 1.85 lakh sq m, large enough to accommodate 25 football pitches.