Chennai airport to have the country's first walkalator

Chennai: The country's first walkalator (horizontal escalator) inside an airport will be opened at Chennai airport next month.
The conveyor belt that transports people, which is a common feature in most major airports abroad, is installed to connect aerobridges so that passengers can use it to reach the aircraft. It will reduce the distance passengers have to walk inside terminals.
The facility is being installed at a cost of Rs 7 crore as part of efforts to enhance passenger amenities and optimise use of infrastructure in the airport. There are five aerobridges in the international terminal and three in the domestic terminal.
Airport director K Natarajan said, "The facility would be installed in a phased manner and the first unit of the walkalator was expected to be opened by mid August."
The first stretch of the walkalator will be useful for passengers using the recently unveiled bus lounge inside the passenger terminal. Sources said that the machines would be installed in small stretches along a 300 metre connecting corridor between terminals so that airport would be able to use all aerobridges round the clock.
30/07/09 V Ayyappan/Times of India

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Categories: Airports Jul 2009, New Jul 2009