Chug along to new airport if govt says yes

Chug along to new airport if govt says yes
The Times of India

Bangalore: Trains to the airport. That’s how the Bangalore International Airport in Devanahalli could make travel easier for its users from the city once it’s operational from April 2, 2008.

A proposal for a dedicated rail link for the around 30-km stretch to the city will be placed before the cabinet by month-end, Vinay Kumar, principal secretary (infrastructure), said on Friday.

“BIAL’s plan has envisaged a rail facility within the airport and it’s up to the state government to decide on the dedicated rail link,’’ a BIAL official said. If approved, the link that will pass through interchanges already planned, can be made operational by 2008, the official added.

The redesigned apron, taxiway and terminal areas will be operational from April 2, 2008, to handle up to 11 million passengers, BIAL CEO Albert Brunner said. All operations, including domestic and international at the existing HAL airport, will be shifted subsequently to the airport at Devanahalli.

While the redesign includes an apron three times larger and terminal area 30 per cent more, the taxiway will have 40 stands from the initial 13.

According to Brunner, the additional cost of Rs 530 crore involved with the redesign will be met by debts from lenders and internal accrual.

“The projected 11 million passengers is the most presumable figure envisaged in the plan and there is always scope for expansion of apron and other facilities,’’ Brunner said in a presentation on the ongoing work to infrastructure minister B Sriramulu during his visit to the airport site.

The construction that began in 2005, is on and 24 per cent of redesigned structures have so far been completed, Brunner said. The boundary wall, access road, granule sub-layers for the runway and ATC tower are among structures that are coming up quickly, he added.

Sriramulu later said BIAL is making good progress and the airport will be completed on schedule. “Trial runs will begin from October 2007 and all procedural requirements have been taken care of,’’ he added.

Works in progress

4 Manufacture of passenger boarding bridges, equipment for baggage handling system, in-line hold baggage screen, various high tension electrical equipment
4 At terminal building: Concreting of ground floor slab and columns above ground floor, pre-casting of roof elements, excavation for basement of additional two bays.
4 At ATC tower: Construction up to 34 meters over of the total 65 meters.
4 On runway: Earthwork on full length complete, laying of base layer (wet mix macadam).
4 Apron area: Installation of storm water drainage pipes.