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The much awaited Bengaluru International Airport at Devanahalli, inaugurated on May 24, 2008 is a notable mark on the global aviation map. Partially owned by Unique Zurich and Siemens AG, L&T, Airports Authority of India Ltd and the Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation Ltd, the Rs 2,500-crore public-private venture, started its operations one day later than previously planned.
After the opening, Mr. Albert Brunner, CEO, Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) said, “The moment we have all been working for so long is finally here. We are glad that operations and procedures were executed as per expectations. Our work has just begun. We will strive to set a benchmark for other airports in the country.”
BIAL was built over 33 months from July 2005 on an area covering 4,000 acres provided by the State Government, 40 km north of the city, just off NH7. The new airport charges Rs. 1,070 each on international passengers as the contentious user development fee. During the first three months of operation, the domestic traveller has been exempted the Rs. 655 fee.
For the past few months, Bangaloreans had raised many protests against the distance, higher cost impact of the new airport and the simultaneous ceasing of the civil operations at the old HAL airport which is within the city.
The Bangalore Metro Transport Corporation (BMTC) has started a special AC 35-seater Volvo shuttle service (branded Vayu Vajra) between the city and the new International Airport to resolve the problem of 40-50 km distance to the new airport. Mr. Dastageer Shariff, Chief Transport Officer (Operations) at BMTC finds the concept of Vayu Vajra operations “excellent”. People can now travel to or from the airport conveniently for between Rs 80-150 each. Also, BMTC has its 80 non-AC airport buses for far lower fares.
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