45% work over at new Bangalore airport

New Delhi: India's largest greenfield airport will become operational in Bangalore's Devanahalli area in just about a year's time.

According to sources in the Bangalore International Airport Limited, about 45 per cent of the work on the international airport has already been completed and work was progressing as per schedule at the terminal building since the work started 17 months ago.

Situated just about 35 km from Bangalore, this is going to be the largest greenfield airport in the country. Construction works of some of the buildings have already reached the roof level in some portions. Approximately, 23 per cent of the roof elements had been completed.

The BIAL authorities are confident that the airport would begin commercial operation in April 2008.

The airport will have a 4,000-metre-long and 45-metre-wide runway and work was progressing rapidly on this stretch. Asphalting work on the runway and laying of final top pavement quality concrete had commenced in the apron area. Construction work at the Air Traffic Control tower and other auxiliary buildings was nearing completion. All services works had commenced in the auxiliary buildings, he added.

On the manufacturing front, Mr Brunner said part of the passenger boarding bridges and the equipment for baggage handling was nearing completion, while other works such as manufacturing of the central air conditioning equipment, apron flood light masts and fixture of electrical poles for urban lighting continued to progress.