Garden City’s Garden Terminal

Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Terminal 2 of Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru on Friday, November 11. The terminal has been built at a cost of 5,000 crores and aims to multiply the capacity of flyers the airport can handle.

With the inauguration of second terminal, the passenger handling capacity of Bangalore airport as well as counters for check-in and immigration is expected to double. It will be able to handle around 5-6 crore passengers annually, a massive increase from the current 2.5 crores. Bengaluru airport has been among the busiest airports of the nation. As of October 31, 2022, 16.75 million passengers have journeyed through the Bengaluru Airport in the current Financial Year 2023. Between April 1st to October 31, 2022, the highest single day PAX traffic was 97,040 on October 9, 2022 and 96 destinations including 72 domestic and 24 international were covered during this time.

The Prime Minister interacted with airport authorities where he was briefed on the model of the Terminal 2 building. He also inspected the facilities at the experience centre and took a walkthrough of Terminal 2 of the Kempegowda International Airport as well as witnessed a short film about the new terminal.

Terminal 2 of the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru will add capacity and further convenience. It is a part of our efforts aimed at providing top class infrastructure to our urban centres. The Terminal is beautiful and passenger friendly! Glad to have inaugurated it. pic.twitter.com/t5ohAr6WCm

— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) November 11, 2022

The Prime Minister tweeted; “Terminal 2 of the Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru will add capacity and further convenience. It is a part of our efforts aimed at providing top class infrastructure to our urban centres. The Terminal is beautiful and passenger friendly! Glad to have inaugurated it.” He added, “Our Government has focused on the aviation sector, giving priority to more airports and better connectivity between destinations.”

Terminal 2 is also being referred to as the garden terminal, designed as a tribute to the garden city of Bengaluru. The passenger experience is meant to be a “walk in the garden.” Passengers will travel through 10,000+ sq mts of green walls, hanging gardens and outdoor gardens. The Airport has already established a benchmark in sustainability with 100 per cent usage of renewable energy across the campus. Terminal 2 has been created with sustainability principles woven into the design. Based on the sustainability initiatives, Terminal 2 will be the largest terminal in the world to be pre certified platinum rating by US GBC (Green Building Council) prior to commencing operations.

Overall, the design and architecture of Terminal 2 have been influenced by four guiding principles: Terminal in a garden, sustainability, technology and art & culture. All these facets showcase T2 as a terminal that is modern yet rooted in nature and offers a memorable ‘destination’ experience to all travellers. The theme of ‘Naurasa’ unites all the commissioned artworks for Terminal 2. The artworks reflect the heritage and culture of Karnataka as well as the broader Indian ethos.

The airport covers a total area of 2,55,645 square metres. In its first phase, Bengaluru’s T-2 would have 22 contact gates, 15 bus gates, 95 check-in solutions and 17 security check lanes along with nine customs hand baggage screening.

The airport covers a total area of 2,55,645 square metres. In its first phase, Bengaluru’s T-2 would have 22 contact gates, 15 bus gates, 95 check-in solutions and 17 security check lanes along with nine customs hand baggage screening.

The gate lounge would accommodate 5,932 people in seating, while the capacity of passengers per annum for phase 1 of T-2 would be 25 million.

The new Greenfield airport at Bengaluru had commenced its operation w.e.f. May 24, 2008 with the project cost of approximately 2,470 crore, constructed on approximately 4,008 acres of land. The airport was re-designated as Kempegowda International Airport on July 17, 2013.

The new terminal comes at a time when the aviation industry has just about recovered from a drop in demand as a result of the pandemic. As a result, it also represents an opportunity for Bengaluru to become a transit hub for visitors to India. The terminal is designed to accommodate large numbers of passengers from big and small flights alike and its enormous size ensures that the airport won’t be over crowded anytime soon. All arrivals have been planned on the ground floor while departures will happen on the first floor. The Airport has already established a benchmark in sustainability with 100 per cent usage of renewable energy across the campus. Terminal 2 has been created with sustainability principles woven into the design.

Source: BLRAirport / Twitter

CURRENT CONNECTIVITY OF THE AIRPORT+ CAPACITY+ PAX BEING CATERED TO

At present, there are 36 Airlines operating from Bangalore airport connecting to 76 domestic and 25 international destinations. The present designated capacity of Terminal 1 (T1) spread across the area of 1,63,535 sqm is 26.5 Millions Passenger Per Anum (MPPA), stretchable to 33.3 MPPA (Pax handled in FY 19-20)

FUTURE CONNECTIVITY PROJECTIONS AND HENCE NEED OF NEW TERMINAL

BIAL expects that annual traffic will grow beyond 50 million in FY’26 and would cross 60 million by FY’28. Newly constructed Terminal 2 of the airport, having area of 2,55,645 sqm, will have 25 MPPA designated capacity taking the total designated capacity of T1+T2 to 51.5 MPPA stretchable to 60 MPPA depending on peak-spreading and average pax/ATM. The augmented capacity will enable it to cater to the growth in passenger footfall in near future.

Based on the sustainability initiatives, Terminal 2 will be the largest terminal in the world to be pre certified platinum rating by US GBC (Green Building Council) prior to commencing operations

During his visit, PM also flagged off the new Vande Bharat Express between Mysuru and Chennai as well as Bharat Gaurav Kashi Yatra train that will provide travel between Kashi and Karnataka and will ensure comfortable travel experience for the pilgrims as well as boost tourism. The Vande Bharat Express is part of the 75 such trains expected to be running all across India by the end of 2023. The train will cover the 497 km stretch between Mysuru and Chennai in 6 hours 39 minutes.

He also unveiled a 180 feet bronze statue of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda. “The role of Sri Nadaprabhu Kempegowda in the making of Bengaluru is unparalleled. He is remembered as a visionary who always put the welfare of people above everything else. Honoured to inaugurate the ‘Statue of Prosperity’ in Bengaluru,” stated the PM. PM also paid tributes to Maharshi Valmiki as well as Kanaka Dasa on the occasion of the latter’s Jayanti.