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Is Bangalore's International Airport Jinxed?


BIAL Project Inception: 1991
Current Status, 2007 : 16 years later report says there are 'Flaws in Bangalore Airport Design'
Verdict : Can we have a law against morons please?

We Bangaloreans have pulled all the petals from the proverbial flower in a desparate attempt to know if we will have our International Airport or not.

Going by today's newspapers looks like we have a long wait before the Airport see's daylight. For today the Times of India reports that the Bangalore Airport design is flawed.
As per the reports there is a structural design flaw as it shows three sides of the terminal's building below ground level. While the Bangalore Airport has been stalled, Hyderabad's International Aiport has been given the green signal.

The Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BAIL) has been one most awaited projects since when it was conceived in 1991. Announced with much fanfare, a lot of promises were made.
To be built at the cost of Rs 1,334 crore [$288 million] the airport was supposed to be modelled on the Zurich one, known for being the most efficient airport in Europe.

The features promised on paper was -
- Domestic arrival : Ground floor
- International arrival : Swing gate walk on second floor
- Domestic and International departure : First floor
- Baggage handling and claim : Ground floor
- Large upmarket shopping areas
- Multi cuisine restaurants
- Play areas and day care centres

Source

Around the same time the Kerala government decided to get an International Airport built at Cochin too. Today the International Airport at Kochi is one of the country's youngest Airports with modern facilities and is currently the fourth busiest airport in India in terms of international traffic (2.5 million passengers including domestic and international for 2006-2007. Bangalore International Airport for that matter has never taken off.


The funniest bit has been saved for the last.
Visit Bangalore Aiport website and there is a small flash banner stating that there are only 308 days to go for the Airport opening. What a laugh.

Despite having two ground-breaking or Bhoomi puja ceremony's, several prominent leaders like Narayana Murthy (Infosys) on the panel and international airport design companies the project seems to head nowhere. Is the International Airport project jinxed?

Comments

Shree said…
Sure looks like it is jinxed..tell u what..its going to be a competition..between the airport and the approach highway...over which is going to get done the last..its a laugh..I just came back from KL and the airport is heaven..period! I rest my case..
Shree said…
PS Why havent I seen you on my page yet?????
Shree said…
This comment has been removed by the author.
Shree said…
Thank u, kind lady ..for leaving behind your footprints in my page..look forward to seeing lots more of 'em in the future :)

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