Expanded Kempegowda International Airport takes off

December 15, 2013

Airport_as_Kempegowda1

Bangalore, Dec 15: Bengaluru International Airport on Saturday formally became Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

The renaming, in honour of the city's legendary founder, also marked the launch of the airport's expanded, feature-packed terminal-1A with a capacity to cater to 20 million passengers annually by 2017.

The terminal 1A, inaugurated by Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, has a total floor area of 1,50,000 square metres, more than double the current area of 73,347 sq metres. It comprises 86 check-in counters, 24 departure emigration and 24 arrival immigration counters, 13 new restaurants, 25 retail outlets, a day hotel and more.

It also boasts of 15 boarding bridges, including a Code-F stand to accommodate an Airbus A380, 13 baggage reclaim belts and 48 security consoles.

New VIP Terminal

The expansion also includes a new VIP Terminal of 10,000 sq ft and a new high-tech Airport Operational Control Centre. However, all the new facilities will be open to the public only in January 2014.

The entire Terminal 1A will soon undergo a security sweep by the Central Industrial Security Force before getting operationalised. As Chief Minister Siddaramaiah unveiled the airport's new identity in an ambience designed to celebrate Karnataka's culture, the airport promoter, the GVK Group drew attention to its further expansion plans.

The plan includes a second terminal and a second runway, which will address the demands of 45 million passengers till 2035. “The new terminal will reach its capacity in the next five years. We will submit our further expansion plans to the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) Board and the Government of India. Unless we do that planning fast, the constraints faced by the airport in Mumbai will happen here too,” said GVK Reddy, Co-Chairman, BIAL.

KIA's expansion was in tune with India's growing domestic aviation market, the second fastest in Asia. Union Civil Aviation Secretary K N Srivastava urged the State Government to reduce the value-added tax on aircraft turbine fuel from 28 per cent to 5 per cent to capitalise on this growth.

“This would substantially lower the costs, increase the passenger traffic, boost the airport's competitiveness and make Bangalore a robust aviation hub,” he said. Siddaramaiah later promised to consider the demand seriously.

The connectivity between the KIA and the City has to be fast-tracked. “The State has been talking about exclusive road and rail links to the airport since 2004-05. The pace has been slow. The current NH-7 connectivity alone will not suffice as passenger traffic rises,” said Srivastava.

Union Petroleum and Natural Gas Minister M Veerappa Moily said the State could emulate the multi-modal transport system planned for the Hyderabad airport, involving the Andhra Pradesh Government and the Railways.

“It is a doable plan,” he said, reminding the chief minister of an earlier proposal for a six-lane road linking International Tech Park to the airport.

Kempegowda statue

A statue of Kempegowda is soon to be installed outside the airport terminal. The chief minister got this assurance from the BIAL, following demands for the statue from Moily and others.

Siddaramaiah also chose the occasion to acknowledge hundreds of farmers who had given away land for the airport.

“We should also remember the farmers who gave 4,300 acres of land at Rs 5 lakh an acre. It is because of them that the airport emerged here, raising the land cost to Rs 5 crore an acre,” he told the huge gathering.

When a section of Kannada activists reminded him about employment opportunities at the airport, he turned to the BIAL officials and urged them to prefer locals. “Otherwise, the purpose will be defeated,” he added.

Airport_as_Kempegowda2

Airport_as_Kempegowda3

Airport_as_Kempegowda4

Airport_as_Kempegowda5

Airport_as_Kempegowda6

Airport_as_Kempegowda7

Airport_as_Kempegowda8

Airport_as_Kempegowda9

Airport_as_Kempegowda10

Airport_as_Kempegowda11

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
January 23,2025

Bengaluru: A suspected case of Mpox, previously known as monkeypox, was reported in Bengaluru late on Wednesday, marking what is likely the first case in Karnataka this year.

A 40-year-old man, who recently traveled to Dubai, has been admitted to Victoria Hospital and is currently receiving treatment, according to well-placed sources. Further investigations are underway to verify additional details of the suspected case.

Mpox raised widespread alarm last year when cases surged in several African countries and began appearing in other nations, including Pakistan and Thailand. In August 2024, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared Mpox a 'Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC).'

India's first confirmed case of Mpox was reported in September 2024. Last month, Kerala reported two additional cases.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
coastaldigest.com news network
January 16,2025

shaheem.jpg

Mangaluru, Jan 16: In an unimaginable twist of fate, the vibrant life of 19-year-old K Ahmed Shaheem was abruptly cut short on the evening of January 15, as he collapsed and passed away while enjoying a game of badminton with friends at Falnir, Mangaluru.

Shaheem, the beloved son of Shareef, originally from Addoor and currently residing at Ivory Tower, Attavar, Mangaluru, was in the prime of his youth. 

A student pursuing his graduation at a local private college, Shaheem had a bright future ahead, filled with dreams and ambitions. His sudden death has left family, friends, and the entire community in shock and grief.

Witnesses recount the heart-wrenching moment when Shaheem, in the middle of an energetic game, suddenly fell to the ground. His friends, devastated by the sight, rushed him to the hospital in the hope of saving his life. But tragically, doctors confirmed that he had passed away by the time he arrived.

Shaheem was not only a student, but also a passionate individual deeply involved in various social organizations, where he touched many lives with his kindness and commitment. His sudden departure has left a void that can never be filled, and his memory will remain forever etched in the hearts of all who knew him.

As his family mourns the loss of their precious son, the community stands in solidarity, deeply moved by the untimely loss of a young life that had so much promise.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.
News Network
January 18,2025

kadabaaccident.jpg

Kadaba, Jan 18: In a heartrending incident, a 16-year-old student lost his life on Friday, January 18, after the motorbike he was riding skidded off the road and plunged into a culvert on the Dharmasthala–Mardhala–Subrahmanya state highway near Gargaspal, Peradka. 

The accident spot falls under the Noojibaltila gram panchayat in Kadaba taluk of Dakshina Kannada district. 

The victim, Ashish, a tenth-grade student from a private school in Peradka, was the beloved son of Vishwanath of Hosamane Kaana in Noojibaltila village. His untimely demise has left his parents and sibling in profound grief.

The accident occurred during Ashish’s routine commute to school. Despite the swift intervention of a local resident, Sridhar, who rushed him to a private hospital in Kadaba, medical efforts could not save him. A case has been registered at the Kadaba police station.

The culvert where the accident happened has long been criticized by locals for its flawed and unsafe design. Numerous accidents have reportedly occurred at this spot, prompting repeated appeals from residents for immediate rectification. Community members have once again called upon authorities to prioritize repairs to prevent further tragedies.

Responding to the incident, Kadaba tahsildar Prabhakar Khajure underscored the importance of curbing underage driving. He directed the police department to take stringent action against minors found operating vehicles and cautioned parents about the serious consequences of providing vehicles to underage children.

This incident serves as a grim reminder of the pressing need for both infrastructural improvements and stricter enforcement of traffic regulations to safeguard young lives.

Comments

Add new comment

  • Coastaldigest.com reserves the right to delete or block any comments.
  • Coastaldigset.com is not responsible for its readers’ comments.
  • Comments that are abusive, incendiary or irrelevant are strictly prohibited.
  • Please use a genuine email ID and provide your name to avoid reject.