Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) recently unveiled its Rs 1,000 crore expansion plan for Terminal one to cater to the increasing passenger traffic which is expected to touch the 17 million mark by 2014-15. Unveiling the plan, G V Krishna Reddy, Vice Chairman, BIAL Board said that as per the plan, existing 72,000 square metres would be enhanced to 1,34,000 square metres. The expansion, expected to be completed in 18 months, will be funded by a 70:30 per cent debt equity ratio.

Giving details of the expansion, Sanjay Reddy, MD, BIAL said designed by HOK, a global architectural firm, along with several leading planners, urban designers, engineering consultants and architects, the new expanded terminal one will have 83 check in counters. The number of baggage reclaim belts will be enhanced from nine to 13 and seating arrangements from 2300 to 5300. There will be 15 Code C and seven Code E boarding gates in place of the present eight Code C and four Code E gates. “Provision also had been made to develop a Code F Board for Airbus 380 in future,” said Reddy.

Provision has also been made for lounge seats at the bus boarding gate. Following a demand, a better VIP lounge had been designed and will be ready shortly. Many features were suggested by the 21-member Joint House Committee of the State Legislature which was set up to suggest improvement and look into lapses to the current airport. The architectural concept of the expansion is to ensure that the existing building had a new look and merged well with the expansion.