The New Airport At Devanahalli Should Be

It is still Bangalore International Airport
The Hindu

The Union Government is yet to approve the change of name of Bangalore to Bengaluru but Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) seems to have jumped the gun and named the upcoming airport at Devanahalli as Bengaluru International Airport.

Although Kannada organisations had suggested to the State Government several names related to erstwhile rulers of the region, the BIAL board decided on the name and sent the proposal to Union Government for approval. Pending approval, the BIAL had already changed the name on its website. The timing of the decision had raised eyebrows as a popularly elected government was not in place.

Sources said the new international airport at Devanahalli could not be called “Bengaluru” International Airport till the Union Government approved the change in name.

“There is no question of officially changing the name to Bengaluru without getting approval from the Union Government,” a top State Government official, who has been associated with the BIAL, told The Hindu on Wednesday.

“The board of directors of the Bangalore International Airport Ltd. in its last meeting decided to send a proposal to the Government to use “Bengaluru” instead of Bangalore. Besides it was also decided to adopt a new logo for the BIAL.”

“However, the name Bengaluru can be used officially only subject to clearance by the Union Government,” the official said.

Prerogative
Meanwhile, the officials pointed out that it would be the prerogative of an elected government to name or change the names of the airports.

On the other hand, the BIAL said the company and its shareholders, when preparing for opening of the new airport, felt a clear need to focus on the destination (city of Bangalore) and not on the operator and hence adapted a new logo inspired by the flowers of the garden city.

The statement said: “The new Bangalore airport now has a new identity inspired by flowers of Bangalore City. It will reflect the reputation of Bangalore as the Garden City. Furthermore, we have adapted to the new city name as Bengaluru.”

Protest
Meanwhile, several activists of Kannada organisations on Wednesday staged a protest in BIAL worksite and obstructed movement of traffic from the National Highway 7 demanding the airport be named after the Bangalore founder Kempegowda.

Chief Project Officer of BIAL Sivaramakrishnan S. Iyer, who received a memorandum from the protesters, said the decision was left to the Centre and that the protesters should approach the State authorities to prevail upon the Centre to name the airport as Kempegowda International Airport.

---

Airport to be named after Bengaluru
Deccan Herald

The Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the main promoters of the country's first greenfield airport confirmed to Deccan Herald that the new airport would henceforth be called the "Bengaluru International Airport".

The Garden City may still be awaiting a green signal from the Union Home Ministry to get its name changed from Bangalore to Bengaluru. But the promoters of the new Devanahalli international airport have gone a step ahead and christened the airport “Bengaluru International Airport”.

The airport has also been given a new logo, reflecting by the City’s floral charm.

“We have adopted the City’s proposed name of Bengaluru, and the airport will be called  Bengaluru International Airport,“ said BIAL Officials.

Ever since the airport construction commenced in July 2005, suggestions and demands had come from several quarters on a suitable name. The debate had even triggered protests from various organisations who wanted it to be named after prominent personalities like founder of Bangalore Kempe Gowda; former Mysore Diwan Sir M Visvesvaraya, matinee idol Rajkumar and Tipu Sultan who was born in Devanahalli.

However, both the State government and promoters have opted to name the airport after the City. Their rationale: It is more apt for an international airport to be named after its city as is the case with several airports round the world.

New logo & identity
BIAL has also unveiled a new logo for the airport. Officials said the logo that was being sported till now was representative of the BIAL company and its shareholders, Siemens Projects Ventures, Larsen & Toubro, Unique Zurich Airport,  Karnataka State Investment and Industrial Development Corporation and Airports’ Authority of India.

“As we prepare for the opening of the new airport, we felt a clear need to focus on the destination (the City of Bangalore) and not on the operator. The new Bangalore airport now has a new identity inspired by the flowers of Bangalore City. It will reflect the reputation of Bangalore as the Garden City,” the officials added.

I have not yet voted. But hey, he did hand a hand in the airport didn't he? ;)

This naming places and things after people is a relatively new phenomenon. A majority of our places are named after the characteristics of the object being named. Kudure-mukha (horse face), Tannir baavi (cold water well)Bidadi(rest area), Madivala(washerman's lake) and so on... Bengaluru IA is apt. But on the other hand the most defining characteristic of this airport has been its frugality and its economy of flair and style. So, perhaps we should consider, chaukasi international. its a chauka in form too. so... ;)

i think some nice oversized stylized posters with nice museum quality photographs and a short biographies would do a lot more.