February 14, 2012
A newly completed terminal for Devi Ahilya Bai Holkar (DABH) Airport in India’s state of Madhya Pradesh was formally opened. The public officials taking part in this inaugural ceremony included Shivraj Singh Chouhan (born in 1959), chief minister of Madhya Pradesh; and Ajit Singh (1939-2021), India’s minister of civil aviation.
This terminal is a prefabricated structure consisting of various sections that can be expanded or contracted to meet the airport’s changing needs. The terminal’s state-of-the-art features include upgraded escalators and a high-tech baggage handling system. This structure also contains shopping stalls and a food court.
DABH Airport, which first went into service in 1948, holds the record for the busiest airport in central India. It is located five miles (eight kilometers) west of Indore, the largest and most populous city in Madhya Pradesh.
DABH Airport was named in honor of a prominent woman who lived in that region of present-day India during the 18th century. This region was known at that time as Indore State, a kingdom within the Maratha Empire, and Ahilya Bai Holkar (1725-1795) reigned as the state’s rani (queen). She achieved renown as an effective and humanitarian leader who made noteworthy educational and cultural contributions to both the city of Indore and the remainder of the kingdom. Ahilya Bai Holkar has also long been revered as a holy woman and was given the title “devi,” which is the Sanskrit word for “goddess.”
Photo Credit: Public Domain
Additional information on airports in India is available at https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_airports_in_India
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