Airport to be named after Bengaluru

Airport to be named after Bengaluru
By Hemanth C S, DH News Service, Bangalore:
The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the main promoters of the country's first greenfield airport confirmed to Deccan Herald that the new airport would henceforth be called the "Bengaluru International Airport".


The Garden City may still be awaiting a green signal from the Union Home Ministry to get its name changed from Bangalore to Bengaluru. But the promoters of the new Devanahalli international airport have gone a step ahead and christened the airport “Bengaluru International Airport”.

The airport has also been given a new logo, reflecting by the City’s floral charm.

The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the main promoters of the country’s first greenfield airport confirmed to Deccan Herald that the new airport would henceforth be called the “Bengaluru International Airport”.

The first flight is set to take off from the new airport in about 60 days.

“We have adopted the City’s proposed name of Bengaluru, and the airport will be called Bengaluru International Airport,“ said BIAL Officials.

Ever since the airport construction commenced in July 2005, suggestions and demands had come from several quarters on a suitable name. The debate had even triggered protests from various organisations who wanted it to be named after prominent personalities like founder of Bangalore Kempe Gowda; former Mysore Diwan Sir M Visvesvaraya, matinee idol Rajkumar and Tipu Sultan who was born in Devanahalli.

However, both the State government and promoters have opted to name the airport after the City. Their rationale: It is more apt for an international airport to be named after its city as is the case with several airports round the world.

New logo & identity

BIAL has also unveiled a new logo for the airport. Officials said the logo that was being sported till now was representative of the BIAL company and its shareholders, Siemens Projects Ventures, Larsen & Toubro, Unique Zurich Airport, Karnataka State Investment and Industrial Development Corporation and Airports’ Authority of India.

“As we prepare for the opening of the new airport, we felt a clear need to focus on the destination (the City of Bangalore) and not on the operator. The new Bangalore airport now has a new identity inspired by the flowers of Bangalore City. It will reflect the reputation of Bangalore as the Garden City,” the officials added.


QUINTESSENTIALLY B’LORE

There were demands to name the airport after Kempe Gowda, Tipu Sultan, Sir M Visvesvaraya and Rajkumar. But the promoters thought it fit to go by the practice world over and name it after the City

The logo reflects Bangalore’s floral wealth unlike the earlier one which embodied the promoters.