The state government on Thursday accorded, in-principle, approval for a proposal to expand the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) with an investment of Rs1,000 crore.
The approval came when the board of directors of the BIA’s owner-operator, the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), met the chief minister, and made a presentation on the expansion plan. They sought the state government’s approval for the same.
The chief minister communicated the government’s approval to the BIAL, which would now submit the proposal to the Union civil aviation ministry’s for its approval. The airport aims to augment its passenger handling capacity from 11 million to 17 million.
The expansion plan includes creation of additional infrastructure such as the expansion of the lounge, construction of toilets and providing additional space for the seating of passengers.
A few months ago, the state legislature’s joint house committee had excoriated the BIAL for poor infrastructure at the airport.
BIAL authorities said that the BIA would “be one of the best airports in the country when the expansion is completed.”
“After the expansion, the Terminal-1 will sport an enhanced and modern design elevation. It will be completed in 18 months from the commencement of construction in September 2010. The project has been designed by HOK, a global architectural giant. Construction partners will be selected through competitive bidding,” government sources said.
“The design and layout for the expansion of Terminal-1 has been finalised. Terminal-1 is now spread over 70,000 square metres. The proposal is to expand the existing building by 70% to provide an additional 50,000 square metres of passenger space. It will cater to the needs till 2015,” a senior official in the state infrastructure development department said. The expansion plan envisages an entirely new landscaping concept for the airport, beginning from the Trumpet Interchange on National Highway 7 and leading up to the terminal building. The new landscaping will reflect the flora of the city and give passengers and visitors a taste of Bangalore at the airport itself. The BIAL has also proposed to take up the Terminal- 2 project in the long run, to accommodate more passengers, sources said.
Yeddyurappa later said: “A team of experts from BIAL will visit the best airports abroad within a month. The team will come up with recommendations to overcome BIA’s current shortcomings.” On reopening the HAL Airport for short haul flights, he said the state government could not take any decision on the issue.
