District magistrate Kumar Ravi and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) general manager G Raja inaugurated the domestic arrival hall at Gaya airport on Wednesday.
With the facility, the entry of domestic and international passengers into the terminal building from the aircraft has been demarcated.
The district magistrate and the general manager inaugurated the new gate at the airport from where the domestic passengers would enter into the terminal building.
Domestic passengers will now have to enter the terminal building through the ground floor gate. On the other hand, international passengers will enter the terminal building through the aerobridge. Earlier, there was a common entry for domestic and international passengers.
Airport director Dilip Kumar said the need to separate domestic and international passengers was felt long back.
"It was necessary from immigration and customs point of view. Domestic passengers don't have to pass through immigration and customs check like the international passengers," he said.
Under that circumstance, there were chances of banned items brought from abroad being sneaked into by domestic passengers.
However, when there will be no international flights, domestic passengers will enter the terminal building through the aerobridge.
There is also a plan to develop a separate VIP lounge for domestic fliers at the terminal building, where passengers can interact with their guests. "There is already a lounge for the international passengers," he said.
The immigration and e-tourist visa counters at the airport have also been increased. Earlier, there were six immigration counters, including two for e-tourist visas. Now, there are six immigration and four e-tourist visa counters.
There is also a plan to make a prayer hall at the airport for Buddhist monks.
Only one domestic flight Delhi-Gaya-Varanasi-Delhi of Air India is being operated from the Gaya airport. The international flight operation will start from October.
During the tourist season beginning from October in Bodhgaya, international flights for Colombo, Bangkok, Yangon and Paro will start. The Sri Lanka-based Mihin Lanka, Thailand-based Thai Airways, Air India, Bhutan-based DrukAir and Myanmar Airlines operate flights for Colombo, Bangkok, Yangon, and Paro respectively. Apart from this, several chartered flights also operate during the tourist season.
On the World Tourism Day on Tuesday, airport authorities welcomed passengers by offering flowers, chocolates and sweets to them at the Gaya airport. Buddhist monks were present at the counters of Bodhgaya Temple Management Committee and the tourism department.
