JOIN USThe ongoing work on the expansion of Terminal 1 of Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) will be completed by October this year, Infrastructure Development Minister Santosh Lad said on Wednesday.
In a written reply to N A Haris (Cong) in the Legislative Assembly, he said Terminal 1 is being expanded to 1,50,556 square meters from the existing 73,347sq metres to increase its passenger handling capacity.
The BIA started operation in 2008 with a capacity to handle 11.4 million passengers annually. The expansion will upgrade the airport to handle 17.2 million passengers per annum.
The minister said the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) was increasing the number of reclaim belts to 15 from nine, seating capacity, expanding vehicle parking area and transit lounge and building a new VVIP terminal as part of the expansion work.
On the upgrading of regional airports in the state, Lad said the state government has handed over 370 acres and 600 acres to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) for upgrading Belgaum and Hubli airports respectively.
418 acres for expansion
The AAI has recently completed a project to upgrade Mangalore airport. The State government has recently handed over 418 acres for further expansion, he added.
Lad said Marg Ltd, which was been entrusted with the responsibility of developing greenfield airports at Bijapur and Bellary, has recently informed the government that the projects are not financially viable.