Hectic activity on at Intl airport project site

Bangalore, Jun 8: Hectic round-the-clock construction activities are in progress at the site of the Bangalore International Airport, coming up near Devanahalli, about 35 km from here, to complete the prestigious project by April, 2008.

Huge earth-moving machinery, roaring bulldozers and escavators and thousands of labourers were seen at work by a team of reporters, who accompanied Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on an inspection tour to the site today.

The 4,000 acres of land, on which the first ever greenfield international airport was being built, was likely to turn into beehive of activity once the Rs 1,947-crore project was completed as per schedule.

The airport, being built on a public-private participation for the first time in the country, was jointly promoted by the Centre and the State and a consortium of private sector companies, including Siemens Projects Ventures, Larsen and Toubro and Unique Zurich Airport. While the private parties had a 74 per cent stake in the project, the remaining was owned by the Government.

The project, which was launched on July two, 2005, would be completed in 33 months. The project cost, which was originally pegged at 1,411 crore when a MoU was signed in 2001, escalated to Rs 1947 crore as the design of the most modern airport had to be redrawn keeping in view the future passenger flow. The state government had extended Rs 350 crore as soft loan for the project, Mr Albert Bruner, CEO, Bangalore International Airport Limited, a company formed to build, own and operate the project, told visiting reporters.

Stating that 23 per cent of work had been completed in 11 months, he said the airport, once completed, would have two 4,000m runways, a sprawling terminal building, measuring 7500 sq.m, on each floor, and a 565m high control tower.

The airport was projected to handle 6.7 million passengers in the first year of its inception and 8.5 million in 2010. During 2040 this figure might cross 40 million, the CEO said.

Expressing satisfaction over the work pace, Mr Yediyurappa said both the Centre and state were extending all support to BIAL in executing the project, which would go a long way in attracting further foreign investment, trade and passenger traffic. At present the air link to this teeming metropolis, which did not have an international airport, was being handled at the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited's airport in the city. Nearly 200 flights land and take off from the city, including a number of international flights. The authorities were finding it increasingly difficult to handle the ever-increasing air traffic to the city.

The Deputy Chief Minister said the state government was thinking of building a metro rail link between the city and the airport to enable faster transfer of passengers.

Mr Bruner said after the completion of first phase in 2008, 40 aircraft would be accommodated in the airport. Wwork on hangers, cargo handling building and other infrastructure was going on at a brisk pace. Once completed, the airport would resemble a city in itself with all modern facilities, including catering, hospitality industry, a golf course and other passenger amenities, he added.

UNI