Passengers to the International Airport at Devanahalli can look forward to travelling in style, if the BMTC has its way.

The BMTC proposes to introduce chauffeur-driven limousine service, complete with a dedicated helpline, to pick-up and drop off air passengers.

Mr Upendra Tripathy, Managing Director, said 40 high-end cars will be purchased by the State-run corporation for servicing passenger traffic to Devanahalli airport.

“A branded service will be established with a helpline number that will co-ordinate the logistics. Travellers to the airport can dial the helpline number and a cab will be at their doorstep. The cab will drop off the passenger at the nearest Volvo airport service point from where he will be taken to the airport,” Mr Tripathy said.

In-house porter

The BMTC also plans to have an in-house porter on every Volvo bus to assist passengers with their luggage.

“Fares for the limousine service will be decided by the BMTC in January. We hope to get the service running by the time the airport is functional in March 2008. Plans are afoot to have an arrangement with airline operators to transport travellers from Star hotels,” added Mr Tripathy.

Chartered service

The State-run Corporation has given ten Volvo buses on chartered service to low cost airline Deccan Aviation (soon to be renamed Kingfisher Airlines) for use at the HAL airport. BMTC Traffic Manager (Commercial) K Vishwanath said the buses have been hired by the airline to transport passengers from the terminal to the tarmac at the HAL airport.

“Other airlines such as Kingfisher have shown interest in availing a similar service up to March 2008, until the opening of the Devanahalli airport,” he added.

Proposed Volvo routes to BIAL(Devanahalli):

*Electronics City: Seven buses via Bommanahalli, Silk Board, Agara, Marathalli, K R Puram Railway Station, Hebbal, Yelahanka (Outer Ring Road).

*J P Nagar VI Phase: Five buses via Jayanagar 4th Block, Lalbagh, Corporation, Cauvery Bhavan, Vidhana Soudha, High Grounds (Le Meridian, Windsor Manor Sheraton, Hotel Grand Ashok hotels), Guttahalli, Mekhri Circle, Hebbal and Yelahanka.

*MCTC on Mysore Road: Five buses via Vijayanagar, Rajajinagar 1st Block, Yeshwantpur Bus Station, Malleswaram Bus Station, Sadashivanagar Circle, Hebbal and Yelahanka.

*Whitefield: Five buses via ITPL, Mahadevapura, K R Pura Railway Station, B Channasandra, Kalyan Nagar, Hebbal and Yelahanka.

*Jeevan Bima Nagar: Five buses via Indiranagar, Halasoor, M G Road (Taj Residency, Hotel Oberoi), Indian Express, J C Nagar, Mekhri Circle, Hebbal and Yelahanka.

*Koramangala: Five buses via Diary Circle, Shanthi Nagar Bus Station, Richmond Circle (Hotel Chancery Pavilion, Ramanashree, Woodlands, Bowring Club, Bangalore Club), J C Nagar, R T Nagar, CBI Office, Hebbal and Yelahanka.

*HAL Airport: Five buses via HAL, Suranjandas Road, Old Madras Road, MEG Centre, Coles Park, St John’s Road, J C Nagar, Mekhri Circle, Hebbal and Yelahanka.

*Peenya II Stage: Three buses via Jalahalli Cross, Goragunte Palya, Alisda, Air Force Cross, BEL Circle, Hebbal and Yelahanka (Ring Road).