13 shops likely to open in new Trichy airport terminal
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
This comes in the wake of the state's second busiest international airport drawing flak from flyers for limited availability of shops and lack of restaurant options despite passenger footfall constantly rising in the swanky terminal.
The Rs1,112 crore building commissioned in June last year has not been successful in utilising commercial space since Dec 2024 to operate retail shops, and food and beverages outlets.
While a tender floated was cancelled on technical grounds, AAI has initiated the process for a re-tender with Oct 2025 as deadline. Around 13 shops are likely to be opened by the end of the year including five commercial spaces for retail shops and a few eateries.
"Lounge facility has been introduced. Simultaneously, we will complete tender formalities in three months to open shops inside the airport at the earliest," airport director Gnaneswara Rao told TOI.
International passengers travelling with family have been expressing concern over lack of economical options for dinner and breakfast during their waiting time at the gates. Since meals provided by airlines are both limited and expensive, passengers have been relying on shops in the airport which often remain overcrowded.
"Existing facilities for passengers are inadequate during peak hours. While additional services are planned by airlines to Mumbai, and a new direct domestic service to Delhi, AAI should focus on improving passenger amenities," A R Yogendran, a frequent flyer from Trichy, said.
Tired of too many ads? go ad free now
While domestic passenger movement in the airport is gradually improving with the airport recording historical best footfall in June, passengers want commercial outlets in domestic departure zones too since most domestic services are either in the morning or evening.
The limited availability of shops had robbed Trichy airport of improved ranking in Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey conducted by Airports Council International (ACI) in 2024. Under the parameter 'availability of shops and value for money of restaurants', the airport lost ratings.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
Ather Energy doubles volumes, pares Q1 loss to Rs 178 cr
BEGALURU: Ather Energy reduced its net loss to Rs 178.2 crore in the June quarter from Rs 182.9 crore a year earlier, as strong cost control and software-led monetisation helped offset pricing pressures. Revenue rose 83% year-on-year to Rs 672.9 crore, while volumes nearly doubled to 46,078 units, led by demand for its family-focused Rizta scooter and an expanded retail footprint. Ebitda margin improved by 1,700 basis points year-on-year to -16%. 'A year ago, our Ebitda margin was at -36% in FY24, we closed FY25 at -23% and this quarter we are at -16%,' CFO Sohil Parekh told TOI in an interview. 'It has been a consistent improvement driven by clockwork value engineering across multiple R&D projects, supported by a 45% R&D-heavy workforce. These are structural improvements, not just commodity tailwinds. ' Ather Energy has also leaned on software revenue to improve profitability. Its paid software suite, AtherStack Pro, which offers advanced features like auto-hold and ride analytics, has an attach rate – the percentage of new buyers opting for it – of nearly 89%. 'For a customer to pay for software in a two-wheeler, it has to deliver incredible value,' CBO Ravneet Singh Phokela told TOI. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Investing In Canada Is An Easy Way To Make Thousands Quickly Invest in Canada | Search Ads Undo 'This product contributes around 6% of our revenue and has exceptional margin leverage. We see a lot more juice here as we keep adding new features.' Phokela also pointed to Ather Energy's pricing discipline in a market that has seen 'reckless discounting.' He noted that the company has been able to hold its average selling price (ASP) while gaining share. 'We gained share without cutting prices. In fact, we've maintained our ASP and even inched prices up slightly in places,' Phokela added, calling it a sign that 'sanity is starting to return to the industry.' The company added 95 new experience centres in the quarter, taking its network to 446, and is leaning on a new compact store format that breaks even at just 12-13 units a month. 'This allows us to profitably enter smaller towns. If a city sells 100 units annually, we have the right to play there,' Phokela said. On the technology front, Ather Energy has started deploying lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry – cheaper and more stable than nickel-based batteries – and is preparing to launch its cost-optimised EL platform, which will underpin a new line of scooters designed for lower price points. 'EL allows us to attack price points we can't currently reach profitably, while LFP will become a larger part of our portfolio in the coming months,' Phokela added. Addressing concerns over rare-earth supply risks, especially China's export curbs on key materials used in EV motors, Phokela said that the company was 'exploring multiple options and technologies,' adding that any disruption 'would be limited to 7-8 days.' He added that while the Bengaluru-headquartered company currently leads in South India, Middle India (comprising Gujarat, Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh and Odisha) is its next big growth market. 'South is now a consolidation market for us. Middle India is where the strongest focus is. North India remains in nurture mode,' Phokela told TOI. Stay informed with the latest business news, updates on bank holidays and public holidays . Discover stories of India's leading eco-innovators at Ecopreneur Honours 2025
Time of India
2 hours ago
- Time of India
13 shops likely to open in new Trichy airport terminal
Trichy: More than a year after Airports Authority of India (AAI) commissioned the integrated terminal building (NITB) at Trichy international airport, the airport management has reinitiated the process to operationalize at least 13 shops including a restaurant in the new terminal. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now This comes in the wake of the state's second busiest international airport drawing flak from flyers for limited availability of shops and lack of restaurant options despite passenger footfall constantly rising in the swanky terminal. The Rs1,112 crore building commissioned in June last year has not been successful in utilising commercial space since Dec 2024 to operate retail shops, and food and beverages outlets. While a tender floated was cancelled on technical grounds, AAI has initiated the process for a re-tender with Oct 2025 as deadline. Around 13 shops are likely to be opened by the end of the year including five commercial spaces for retail shops and a few eateries. "Lounge facility has been introduced. Simultaneously, we will complete tender formalities in three months to open shops inside the airport at the earliest," airport director Gnaneswara Rao told TOI. International passengers travelling with family have been expressing concern over lack of economical options for dinner and breakfast during their waiting time at the gates. Since meals provided by airlines are both limited and expensive, passengers have been relying on shops in the airport which often remain overcrowded. "Existing facilities for passengers are inadequate during peak hours. While additional services are planned by airlines to Mumbai, and a new direct domestic service to Delhi, AAI should focus on improving passenger amenities," A R Yogendran, a frequent flyer from Trichy, said. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now While domestic passenger movement in the airport is gradually improving with the airport recording historical best footfall in June, passengers want commercial outlets in domestic departure zones too since most domestic services are either in the morning or evening. The limited availability of shops had robbed Trichy airport of improved ranking in Airport Service Quality (ASQ) survey conducted by Airports Council International (ACI) in 2024. Under the parameter 'availability of shops and value for money of restaurants', the airport lost ratings.
Time of India
5 hours ago
- Time of India
Green push upstaged as e-bus crashes raise safety alarm, show training gaps
An increase in fatal accidents involving Bengaluru's electric buses is threatening to overshadow BMTC's push for greener mobility. In the last financial year alone, e-buses were involved in 11 fatal and 18 non-fatal accidents. This year, 18 accidents, including one on Sunday, have already been reported - six of them fatal, with three occurring in July alone. The bus transport corporation operates 1,500 e-buses under gross cost contracts (GCCs), leasing them from private operators for 10-12 years. While the initiative supports sustainable transport goals, safety concerns are growing, particularly over the preparedness of drivers employed by the private operators. Under the GCC model, BMTC doesn't hire drivers. Instead, private operators are tasked with recruiting and training the staff. Currently, operators have employed nearly 3,000 drivers. However, the adequacy of this training is now in question. BMTC's chief traffic manager (operations) GT Prabhakar Reddy told TOI the corporation has taken steps to mitigate risks, even though driver hiring isn't under its control. "We send drivers to the city traffic police's Traffic Management Centres for training. Conductors - who are BMTC staff - have been told to keep an eye on drivers and report any violations to depot managers," he said. BMTC also imposes a penalty of Rs 50,000 on the operator in case of a fatal accident. Inexperience & pay gaps On the ground, a BMTC conductor said many drivers lack experience in ferrying passengers. "Some come from goods transport backgrounds and find it hard to adjust to Bengaluru traffic. It requires patience and care," he said. He also pointed to a large wage disparity between BMTC drivers and those hired by private firms, leading to high attrition from the latter. Commuters have flagged rash driving by e-bus drivers - from sudden acceleration to abrupt turns. There have been incidents where passengers were thrown off their seats. Reddy acknowledged the issue and said retired BMTC drivers are now helping train e-bus drivers on safer driving practices. Breakdowns are another major concern. Bengaluru traffic police recorded 12 cases of e-buses breaking down during scheduled services in July alone. A senior officer said technical staff often come from far-off depots, causing long delays. Unlike diesel buses, e-buses cannot be pushed aside due to wheel-lock issues. "Drivers don't even attempt basic fixes as they fear damaging the vehicle," he said. Faster acceleration, lower reaction time Bikers, especially, are finding it hard to gauge the speed of e-buses. Shriharsha, a regular commuter, said, "They pick up speed much faster than diesel buses. If the driver is not used to that, it's risky." He recalled an accident near KR Circle where a bus rammed a subway wall, reportedly after sudden acceleration. "The windshield was shattered," he said.
