Project update: BIAL

Work on course Airport trial runs later this month
Metro Special: STOI brings you an update on the progress of five major infrastructure projects
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bangalore: Having scheduled March 30 for the grand opening of the new international airport, the authorities will begin trial runs this month-end. To ensure smooth flight operations, trials have been planned in three phases — basic, advanced and integrated.
The authorities are ensuring that almost all work is completed well before March 30, and the construction is progressing. The commissioning of various equipment —- airfield lights on the runway and taxiway; passenger boarding
bridges; the baggage handling system and escalators at the terminal building —- is in the final stages.
The work on the Air Traffic Control (ATC) block is nearing commissioning stage. Other work which will be taken up includes streetlights, cable checks at the airside service road and the secondary access roads. Installation of internal glass partitions, handrails and the external aluminium panel cladding (APC) in the terminal building are in the finishing stages. Other work in the terminal building in the finishing stage includes construction of duty-free areas, cabling work at all the Common User Terminal Equipment (CUTE) check-in counters, installation of public address system, CCTV cameras, the antennae and the light luminaries. Car parking will come up opposite the terminal building and work on it is in full progress. Laying of paver blocks and landscaping in this area is on. Major work relating to airside administration building has been completed.
Other buildings and infrastructure
The construction of the airside perimeter road and main access road till the trumpet interchange are in progress. The grading and road construction works around the main building are in progress.
SOME FEATURES
Medical service: Columbia Asia Hospitals has been chosen by BIAL as partners in providing medical care to travellers. It will establish a 24x7 medical care facility and a pharmacy to handle medical care needs arising at the airport. In addition to this, Columbia Asia has proposed to provide total medical assistance in coordinating any mass casualty event or disaster. Terminal: The passenger terminal is a single, fully air-conditioned, two-level building capable of accommodating international and domestic operations. The total floor area is nearly 71,000 square metres and is designed to accommodate 2,733 passengers at peak hour. Runway: A single runway is on the northern side of the airport complex. The runway is designed to accept Boeing 747 aircraft. BIAL will have a 4,000 metre runway, with a 60-meter width including shoulders.
Cargo complex:
The consortia — SATS/ Air India and Bobba Group/ Menzies Aviation will handle the cargo facilities. They will collectively build a capacity to handle nearly 3 lakh tons of cargo annually. Retail and duty-free: The domestic departures will include a Shopper’s Stop outlet, Crossword bookstore, an exclusive outlet for electronics, standalone fashion brand outlets, a confectionery and sweets outlet. The international departures would have one of the largest duty-free outlets in India, offering liquor, tobacco, perfumes, cosmetics, souvenirs, art, and collectibles from local markets.