HAL airport to get a makeover

HAL airport to get a makeover

The Hindu

Terminal expansion project to be completed in the next 20 days

# The expansion envisaves more check-in counters
# Revamped ATC to have three zones
# With only one runway, the airport will be under pressure

BANGALORE: Passengers can hope to breathe easy from this month at the HAL airport in the city. Driven by the explosive growth in air traffic to and from the city, the Airports' Authority of India (AAI) and the State-owned aviation major Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd. have worked out a Rs. 50-crore project to improve airport infrastructure and modernise the Air Traffic Control (ATC).

The terminal expansion project will be completed in the next 15 or 20 days, AAI's regional director Krishnamurthy told The Hindu . "The conveyor belt has to be fixed in the departure lounge. That is the only work pending," he added.

The expansion includes more check-in counters (up to 20) and renovation of the existing ones. AAI has contributed Rs. 10 crore for the expansion and renovation of the terminal building. The security hold area, presently facing enormous pressure from the heavy inflow of passengers, is also to be expanded. AAI will also improve the baggage handling system and has proposed a multi-level car park outside the terminal building.

As Mr. Krishnamurthy put it, the international departure terminal is expected to become "very comfortable" for passengers post-renovation. "It will have 600 to 650 seats, capable of handling about three flights. The domestic terminal's seating capacity also will go up to 200 seats," he said. In terms of passenger traffic, the airport has now emerged as the third busiest in the country. As part of the ongoing project, the outdated ATC is being modernised with the addition of a new state-of-the-art radar with considerably improved efficiency than the existing one. The revamped ATC system will have its operations divided into three zones. They include the "Area Zone" which will guide the aircraft flying around 80-90 km away; "Approach Zone" which will take control when a flight approaches the airport and after landing; and "Surface Zone" where officials will communicate with the aircraft. Yet, with only one runway, the airport will continue to feel the pinch. The huge increase in the number of flights by different airlinesmeans there is a landing or take-off every two minutes during peak time.