Airport terminals in India to get smoking zones

From March 31 Smokers will be able to smoke at IGI Airport now that the Airports Authority of India has decided to build exclusive smoking lounges at three terminal buildings here.

Smoking was banned inside airport buildings after the Anti-Smoking Act prohibited smoking at public places. Since then, security staff have had to alternately stop people from lighting up, “eject them” or fine them for violating the Act.

Airport authorities were quick to ban smoking once the Act came into force but took their own time to create smoking zones inside the airport. Many leading international airports have smoking lounges to ensure non-smokers are not inconvenienced.

A senior airport official said “The work for building these exclusive smoke chambers which would have separate ventilation. These chambers would be ready for use by passengers by March 31 this year.” The three smoking enclosures for departing passengers will come up at International Terminal II and Domestic Terminals IA and IB. No such enclosure will come up at the arrival lounges since passengers spend little time there.

The lounges will have seats and there will be signages to help people locate them. Unlike other retiring rooms these lounges will have separate ventilation to provide smokers a better environment and prevent smoke from leaking into the passenger terminal. The three lounges will cost more than Rs 24 lakh

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