BIAL spreads its wings before grand launch

BIAL spreads its wings before grand launch
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Devanahalli (Bangalore Rural): Gearing to meet the av i at i o n boom in Bangalore, the under-construction international airport will expand within two years of the start date — April 2, 2006.
BIAL CEO Albert Brunner told reporters on a site visit on Thursday: “We will plan expansion as the airport becomes operational. Another runway will be essential in six years, the next terminal will be bigger than this one.’’
Internationally, airports plan 1.7 sqmt space per passenger for maximum comfort. Bangalore’s existing HAL Airport, planned to handle about 1.5 to 2 million passengers a year, but is handling 8 million now, thus making it “very uncomfortable.’’
The Bangalore International Airport’s (BIA) phase-I terminal (post-redesign) will accommodate over 10 million passengers, with 42 aircraft stands. After expansion, BIA’s capacity will be 40 to 50 million passengers, a figure which will be witnessed by Bangalore in 20 to 25 years.
“But our traffic projections made just 2 years ago have become obsolete as the sector has grown. We are keeping all possibilities in mind and planning,’’ Brunner added.
Still, there is no change in BIAL’s stand that HAL Airport should close. Countering lowcost airlines’ demand that HAL Airport handle domestic traffic to reduce costs, Brunner said there were logistical problems.
“The distance between our airport and HAL is too far. Cargo and passengers cannot be moved from one to the other,’’ he contended.
There will be need for another airport only when the capacity of the sprawling 4,000 acre BIA is reached. Even in terms of runway capacity, BIA can handle about 17 to 20 million passengers with just one runway, he added. The completed runway-taxiway can accommodate the Airbus 380, expected to be flying by 2011-12. BIA’s phase-I terminal is not equipped to handle this aircraft, but Brunner said the phase-II terminal and the second runway — both A-380 enabled — would be operational by then.
The first trials of various facets of the airport will begin from October itself, while trial planes will start flying from January. Commercial planes would fly from April.
The process to acquire airport licence would begin by September 2007. The safety management systems manual has already been sent to the DGCA for clearance.
toiblr.reporter@timesgroup.com Worry factor: connectivity
Devanahalli: Albert Brunner admitted to the “weak point’’ about connectivity to the airport. He said both the NHAI and government had disowned responsibility to complete the trumpet flyover from Bellary Road (NH-7) into the airport.
“We are building this overselves at an additional cost of Rs 117 crore (raising construction cost to Rs 2,047 crore), but only two loops will be ready by the start date,’’ he admitted.
He said arrangements were being made for special express buses from every corner of Bangalore and for regular buses. “A detailed report on the rail link and expressway is also expected soon,’’ he added.