As the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) reiterated its commitment to build a suburban railway station within its boundary, a massive road connectivity upgrade was unveiled on Thursday: Expansion of the Trumpet Interchange and the Main Access Road leading to its terminals.
The Main Access Road (MAR) will be closed for widening by March-end. From April 1, all vehicles heading to and from the Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) will be diverted to a new South Access Road (SAR), branching out of the first junction after the Trumpet Flyover.
Running parallel to the MAR, this 3-km long, four-lane secondary access road is almost ready, as BIAL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Hari Marar informed. The MAR will be widened in phases to 10 lanes (5+5) from the existing four lanes (2+2).
The Trumpet Interchange will be expanded with two lanes on either side to and from the city. Since the railway line to Chickaballapur passes under the Interchange, BIAL has obtained in-principle approval from the South Western Railways. Work will begin by June-end, according to Marar.
The Airport Metro line, entering the KIA premises through the Trumpet Interchange, will pass along the MAR as an elevated line. Two Metro Stations have been proposed on this alignment. A flyover has been proposed at the first junction.
To accommodate the growth of cargo traffic, BIAL will also widen the North Cargo Road to four lanes from the existing two lanes. A taxi and bus staging facility will be developed adjacent to the SAR. A Multi-Modal Transport Hub on the forecourt area of the upcoming second terminal (T2) is also in the pipeline.
Suburban rail station
BIAL had first proposed to build a suburban railway station five years ago, reminded Marar. If the State government and the Railways agree, the station can come up at the North Western corner of the KIA boundary, through which the line to Chickaballapur passes.
Marar said BIAL was ready to introduce continuous shuttle buses between the station, the existing terminal and the upcoming second terminal T2. “We had even prepared a Detailed Project Report (DPR) and submitted it to the government,” he elaborated.
On the Airport Metro line, Marar said BIAL was not averse to funding the two stations proposed within the airport boundary.
