Monsoon not to wash out work on airport

Monsoon not to wash out work on airport
The Times of India

Bangalore: The air traffic control tower at the Bangalore international airport in Devanahalli is scaling heights. In one month, it has gone up by 7.5 metres.

Finishing work is on at the two floor administrative and technical block. At the redesigned terminal building, ground floor slabs are being laid, basement is done and the columns are coming up for the first floor.
The worry about rains hampering work — as it did last year — has been addressed. Haunted by the sceptre of October 2005, when heavy rains delayed

the construction activity by a month-and-a-half, airport company, Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), has worked out contingencies for this year’s monsoon.

A layer of the Granular Sub Base (GSB) has been laid on the runway, taxiways and main access road, to ensure that the ongoing intermittent rain does not seep through to affect the mud. “By the time heavy rain sets in, we will be completely ready,” BIAL officials told TOI.

Activity at the site is fast, with about 24% of the entire project already done. Only two small ancillary buildings will be delayed a bit.

Paperwork is also in process. The redesign of the airport sought by Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel is complete with both the state and the Centre giving the nod.

Karnataka’s infrastructure secretary Vinay Kumar said the engineering has been done in two packages of Rs 218 crore and Rs 165 crore. “The first package will be constructed by the original contractor, Larsen and Toubro, while the additional parts worth will be tendered afresh. Documentation for this is on.”

Tenders: The ‘hi-tech’ entrance to the airport — the trumpet interchange — will have tenders in by June 6. The NHAI will identify the contractors, who will sign a 30-year concessions agreement with BIAL.

11th month report card
Work in progress at
o Terminal building ground and first floor.
o Technical and administrative building minor work.
o ATC tower.
o Over half the boundary wall completed.
o GSB on runway, taxiway, main access road
o Apron earthwork.
o Secondary access road and air side services road.
o Air rescue and fire fighting building.
o Ground support engineering building.
o Six other auxiliary buildings.