Bangalore, Dec 15: The Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) was officially renamed after its founder's name as the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda International Airport.
After getting a facelift and a new identity, BIA's name was rechristened on Saturday, December 14. The airport that will now be called as 'Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru' (KIAB), has been refurbished and expanded substantially to handle up to 20 million passengers a year.
While unveiling a plaque carrying Kempegowda's name at the new terminal of the KIAB airport, Aviation Minister Ajit Singh said, "India had grown to become the ninth-largest aviation market in the world and was poised to soon become the third - behind only US and China."
The first decision to rename the BIAL airport was taken when Karnataka was ruled by the BJP government under the chief ministership of Jagadish Shetter. Then, the UPA government had granted the approval to rename the airport after Kempe Gowda.
The flight operations at the BIA started in May 2008 and the area is owned by the GVK group, Siemens and Zurich Airport apart from the Union and the state governments.
The Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) was officially renamed after its founder's name as the Nadaprabhu Kempegowda International Airport on December 14.
After getting a facelift and a new identity, the KIAB was refurbished and expanded substantially to handle up to 20 million passengers annually.
The airport has been built to reflect the city's dreams, culture, ethos and the state's landscape. The expanded terminal is spacious and at par with the best in the world in terms of convenience.
The new terminal has 26 boarding gates, 15 aerobridges, including one special one to facilitate A380. A new, high-tech control centre helps both airlines and concessionaires to streamline their processes.
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Union ministers K Rahman Khan, M. Veerappa Moily and others at the renaming of Bangalore International Airport as Nadprabhu Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Union ministers K Rahman Khan, M. Veerappa Moily and others at the renaming of Bangalore International Airport as Nadprabhu Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Union ministers K Rahman Khan, M. Veerappa Moily and others at the renaming of Bangalore International Airport as Nadprabhu Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Saturday.
Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, Union ministers K Rahman Khan, M. Veerappa Moily and others at the renaming of Bangalore International Airport as Nadprabhu Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru on Saturday.
The airport has been expanded and modernised at a cost of Rs.1,500 crore to receive large aircraft like Airbus A380, which international carriers operate on long-haul routes the world over.
The airport has been built to reflect the city's dreams, culture, ethos and the state's landscape. The expanded terminal is spacious and at par with the best in the world in terms of convenience.
As the country's leading infrastructure major, GVK group leads the BIAL with 43 per cent equity stake in the public-private consortium.
The new terminal has 26 boarding gates, 15 aerobridges, including one special one to facilitate A380. A new, high-tech control centre helps both airlines and concessionaires to streamline their processes.
The airport has the capacity to cater to 20 million passengers annually.
BIAL posted Rs 114 crore net profit on a gross revenue of Rs 560 crore in 2012-13.
About Kempegowda
A fitting tribute was paid to the Kempegowda, a chieftain who ruled the city in the 16th century under the Vijayanagara empire.
As the city's founding father, Kempegowda laid the stage for the development of the entire region.
"Kempegowda planned and build the city and is noted for societal reforms and contribution in building temples and water reservoirs across Bangalore. The airport's new name honours the founding father," Siddaramaiah recalled.
OneIndia News
(With IANS inputs)