KIA gets green clearance for expansion

Second stage to include new passenger terminal, another runway

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) has been formally accorded the Environmental Clearance (EC) for its second stage expansion of the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA).

This expansion will include the construction of a new terminal along with the second runway, taxiways, aprons, aircraft parking and all aviation facilities and structures.
The expansion is envisaged to accommodate KIA’s future traffic growth, which is likely to reach 55 million passengers annually by 2029-2030 and approximately 1 million tonnes of cargo movement.

The expansion within the existing airport site area will cater to both aeronautical and non-aeronautical infrastructure facilities.

The second stage expansion approval was granted by the Ministry of Environment, Forests & Climate Change, Government of India. BIAL Managing Director, G V Sanjay Reddy said the second stage EC for the airport would now pave the way for securing final approvals for the project. He indicated that the approvals will help in timely completion of the project.

An expanded KIA, BIAL officials maintained, will boost the state’s economic development and benefit regional business interests, besides propelling growth in the travel and tourism indusry.

The second stage expansion will be within the existing airport site area of 4,009 acres. The EC has been issued on the condition that BIAL obtains the consent of the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board under the Air and Water Act, clearance from the Central Ground Water Board and adheres to the requirements to set up a green belt area and Rain Water Harvesting.

In July 2011, the Ministry had approved KIA’s first stage expansion including the Terminal 1-A, which was completed in December 2013. This had enhanced the airport’s passenger handling capacity from 11.4 million passengers per annum to 17.2 MPPA.

A public limited company, BIAL was formed under the Companies Act formed to build, own and operate KIA. Private promoters hold a 74 per cent stake (GVK – 43 per cent, Siemens Projects Ventures – 26 per cent, and Flughafen Zurich AG – 5 per cent) in BIAL, while the government holds the remaining 26 per cent (Karnataka State Industrial Investment and Development Corporation – 13 per cent, Airport Authority of India – 13 per cent).