Why does Bangalore need an international airport?
Bangalore does have an airport. However, the existing Bangalore airport is located within city limits and suffers severe limitations for expansion of both airside and landside facilities. These constraints do not allow expansion of the airport. In order to keep pace with the rapid development in Bangalore as India’s leader in information technology, biotechnology and the services industry, the Government of Karnataka and the Airports Authority of India initiated the greenfield airport project north of Bangalore. Bangalore’s current airport is the fourth largest in India. BIAL, when completed, will be the first international airport in India built, owned and operated by a public limited company with a majority of private shareholders. The financial close was reached at the end of June 2005; construction began on 2nd July 2005 and will last, including the testing phase, for 33 months. The new Bangalore International Airport is estimated to open for commercial operations on April 2, 2008.
