International airport work on track

International airport work on track

The Hindu

It would be open for commercial operations from April 2008

BANGALORE: Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) Chief Executive Officer Albert Brunner said on Wednesday that 42 per cent of the construction work had been completed at the country's first greenfield airport coming up near Devanahalli, and the airport would be open for commercial operations from April 2008.

Addressing presspersons at the Bangalore International Airport project site, Mr. Brunner said despite BIAL going in for redesign of the airport and making many architectural changes, it would ensure that commercial operations began by April 2008 as scheduled. Mr. Brunner said BIAL would spend about Rs. 1,200 crore on construction work and it had invested Rs. 400 crore.

Asphalting on

Work on the terminal building was in progress and approximately 23 per cent of the roof elements had been completed. Asphalting of the 4,000-metre-long runway was on. The laying of the final top pavement-quality concrete at the apron area had started. Construction work on the air traffic control (ATC) tower and other auxiliary buildings was nearing completion, he said.

Mr. Brunner made it clear that the BIAL would not go for any revision until commercial operations started.

The BIAL has selected the Oberoi group to operate a five-star hotel under the brand Trident Hilton, which will be within walking distance from the terminal building.

Mr. Brunner said the Oberoi group would invest Rs. 250 crore in the venture, and the hotel would have 321 rooms, conference halls, restaurants and a spa.

HMS Host Corporation, a global leader in airport dining and shopping, had been awarded the contract to operate the food and beverage service in the domestic and international departure points, he said.