HAL: invest before re-opening?

Satellite check-in terminals could be built within 5mile radius of the HAL airport which will prevent choking of the main terminal as well as the approach roads. Lets say if there were 2 terminals built 5 miles apart forming a triangle along with the main terminal, people could use these places to park and check-in and if there were a monorail connectivity between the 3, people can finish security checks in the satellite terminals and direclty enter the gates thru the monorail like many international airports. The monrail will be used to ferry the cargo from the sat terminals too.

Just an ambitious idea.

We cannot ban cars and taxis from HAL. The main attraction of HAL as an in-city airport would be lost. However, the VV and other mass transport services should be given greater importance and cars parking should be kept a distance away from the terminal.

If HAL opens, and they way MoCA is behaving, it is a BIG "IF", it will primarily cater to regional flights, many of which will be "day-trippers". So we can expect less baggage, passengers wanting quick entry and exit, and also long term parking should be considered.

I have made some initial ideas about landside improvements. Click on it to get the bigger image.

Long term multi-storey parking near the current departures entrance. Convert the existing parking in front of departures to bus and pick-up/drop off lanes. Convert the front of the arrival to a gallery and allow for freer exits. One pick up lane. ABSOLUTELY NO STANDING. Have Tigers running around.

Remove the IOC deport and that will open up the whole area for a multi-storey premium short term car park.

The one area I am not able to resolve is the movement of arrivals cars. That will entail a cross over. Slight traffic jam.

Satellite check-in for BIAL is understandable, not for HAL. No standing line for taxis. If they want to park, they can use the L/T parking or the S/T parking.

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Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

 

The real question in m mind is, if HAL is a temporary 3 year option, how much money is worth investing in it? Will multi level parking lots recover the money spent? I doubt Private parties are willing to invest given this short period and if it is AAI investing then would it be priority - as opposed to spending that money on Tier II city Airports....etc? I support the usage of existing infrastructure and public trasnport. Maybe Business Class passengers checkin/park at leela Galeria and then use a High Capcity A/C bus to the airport. Or parking can be facilitated In multilevel parking lots located on 100 ft road (indiranagar) connected with High Capacity Frequent Busses. This way even if HAL shuts down, the growing number of shops in the area will make the parking lot worthwile. Also Private parties will be interested in taking part. Such projects will get people used to the "leave your car behind" policy which can slowly be implemented in other areas such as Bus Stands, railways, Shopping malls...etc

Being Friday, I am yet to catch all the tit bits on Praja. But one thing came to mind is that if at all our babus decide to open HAL airport for commercial traffic (may be minority appeasement on HAL Deal), traffic issues has to be sorted out and congestion free solutions has to be in place before the first flight.

 One thing I would strongly advocate is to have Exit/Entry points for the airport to be signal free on airport road. MAGIC BOX could be one solution with ample pedesterian crossings.

 This is a chnace for all of those Pro-HAL campaigners to prove that they care for this city called "Bengaluru" rather than their company bottom lines, travel bills and travel comforts.

 DISCLAIMER - I am not a Pro-HAL campaigner. 

an elevatd road over an existing road like HAL airport road will be aesthetically very very negative. in fact the metro on MG road itself is spoilig the aestehtics

a good way would be to identify an under utilised road parallel to airport road (near bellandur lake) and develop that into an elevated corridor with ample space (at least 200 feet to 500 feet) from the edge of the road on either side for the nearest building to be located (in fact it is possible to implemnet this on new roads or under utilised roads)

furrther Metro can be avidided totally on airport road and plannedin some other instead

a three level (three tier) transport system will be out of place in any area in Bangalore

Srinath Heragu

SB,

W.r.t Magic Boxes and Elevated road, I don't care how we do it as long as the entry/exit points are made signal free to allow the non-airport traffic to move smoothly. That is my bottomline wish. 

 I totally agreee with you on the issue of investment in HAL. Investment should be to improve the access roads, commuter service to airport and all the transporatation & tarffic issues to be resolved. I care less about investment in improvements to terminal and other airport ancilliary infrastructure. That would serve only a hnadfull who would use the airport. We should be wise to use this oppurtunity to invest in traffic related infratstructure that would be beneficial to other bangaloreans as well.

 Actually, if you read all my postings on BIAL, HAL, my interest in BIAL is about the oppurtunity to get the roads and alleys that leads to BIAL gets attention. They get repaired, widen, signals installed, ped crossings are marked and traffic movement is made smooth. My interest is in getting to see these road widenings and improvements leading to growth in commercial activities in its surrounding areas. Increased public transport services on that would help the ordinary Bangaloreans living in close proximity to these roads. I think Praja should take up the initiative to see that all the alternate roads to BIAL and HAL airports are improved and good public transport service is available on these raods. Increased commercial activity would result im BBMP improving the civic amenities in those areas that have been tradionally neglected. I would not hesitate to call this as "intelectual discrimination" that has been going in past 6 decades. Some of these areas are in existance much before the new extensions like PB nagar, Koramangala Mahalaxmi Layout etc. 

 

To start with, we need to get a foot in the door. Then only can we slowly force it open.

On the long term, even AAI, would like to reconstruct the entire domestic departure terminal from scratch as an integrated facility.

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Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

 

what happened to the much bandied about 'you must have choice'. Will I have the choice to NOT use HAL and use only BIAL for all my flying needs? Lets see how we do on that one.

I never really understood the choice issue! Do public get to choose betweeen 3000 cr investments? Today's hindu cleared the 145 kmph High Speed Rail to BIAL. Should be done by 2011 - and its 25 mins from the City CAT.would that satisfy connectivity?

Hi Narayan

You have raised a very valid point. The cost of connectivity to the airport is going to cost us 200% to 300% the cost of the airport. Is this a feasible investment ? What should be the stake of the airport operator in this ? Should there be any PPP at all ? Should the connectivity be completely private ?

{Sorry for the digress here and re-opening a potential can of worms. However, please read this and if you choose not to reply or better PM me your reply I will be grateful}.

AAI technical team did an audit from June 16-18. These guys are the walking talking encyclopedia's of IATA's airport terminal design specifications. I do not mean archtectural, but the hard core specs of the various airport sub-systems.

Now I am sticking my neck out here with a deliberate "hypothetical" and you know what I mean. 

Just "hypothetically" speaking ....... once the report is prepared, and the report says that BIAL is already at a Code D level as per IATA specs instead of the required Code A level for a new airport, i.e. already saturated.

Lets assume the report goes on to say that the airport has only 14.6 sqm of floor space per peak hour passenger (PHP) when compared to 36 sqm/PHP at DEL, 35.21 at HYD, 24.15 at CCU, 23.15 at MAA. Please note, global airports like Changi, HKIA, Manila, Beijing, etc., are all >50sqm per PHP. Some in the upper '60s.

Lets assume the report goes on to say that as per IATA recommendation the terminal area for 10 million passengers (remember BLR did 10.12 mn last year) is 150,000 sq mtr, instead of 71,310 sqm at BIAL. Out of which 18,665 sqm is basement not used for passenger facilities but services and utlities instead, thus further reducing the effective terminal area.

Let us also assume that the IATA recommendation of terminal area is based on 15% retail space, whereas BIAL has already dedicated over 30% of area to retail.

Lets assume the report says that due to improper space allocation, import cargo warehouses are already at capacity.

Lets assume that the report shows that based on security hold, processing capacities of the various sub-systems (check-in, security, etc) is 1200 passengers, but the CURRENT peak demand is already at 1320 or higher. http://farm4.static.flick...

Let us assume that the report calls for IMMEDIATE expansion of BIAL, but we know the expansion will take at least 3 years.

Lets assume this report goes on to recommend that HAL airport be kept open in parallel with BIAL

And let us assume, that a copy of this report is with various Karnataka state government officials, and with BIAL, but is being kept away from the courts because of the the last hypothetical.

.......... then what would be our reaction.

I do not know why we compare BIAL with HAL. HAL terminal represents 10 years ago. BIAL is supposed to represent the future and "world class". Having spent over Rs. 10,000 Cr in resources, in what way are we future-proofing the air transport needs of Bangalore ?

Also, the issue about HAL, is about choice. If you want to fly from BIAL, no one is stopping you. I woud expect you to extend the people wanting to use HAL the same courtesy?

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Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

Devesh, thats the very thing we want to attack - the "personal transport" culture. What better statement to make than an airport itself?

I agree this is something we have to "attack". However deep rooted cultural changes are going to come slowly. And we need to provide alternates first. Like I said in the WG meeting. We cannot make a statement that "Government needs to discourage private transportation." It has to be "Government needs to encourage public transportation". We are a democracy, and I have freedom of movement.

Ultimately personal transport is not merely choice and convenience, but a status symbol. Otherwise, it would not be such a popular dowry item. :)) :((

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Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

 

As I see it if all your assumptions/reports publish that BIAL doesnt not comply to a 3.5 Rating on the IATA scale - then as Mr Brunner Put it - the airport will be handed back to the government. Of course its not going to be much use if they did so as the damage is done. But, I don't think BIAL will let that happen. Right now connectivity is going to cost about 200% cost of the airport. But if BIAL goes ahead and implements its master plan (with the aeropolis...etc), that equation would come down to maybe 20-30% ? Again IMHO its is Stupid (Yes capital S) of the government to build and elevated rail and elevated road. I feel the rail alone (with scope for expansion) will suffice. It will also encourage people not to drive and create a mess on the road. Eitherways, by the looks of things I dont think that Elevated road that NHAI is threating us with is even close to taking off! I am sure sense will prevail before construction to delay the project endlessly!

..assuming all of 'facts' presented are 100% accurate, I would say let's hold BIAL's feet to the fire to get everyone of these fixed and give up on this 'open HAL' nonsense. Its the only way to make sure all the improvements/upgrades acutally happen. Reopening HAL is a sure fire way of making sure nothing happens. No further investments in connectivity or airport improvements.

Why would BIAL make any further investments? Whether you'd like to admit it or not a significant part of the BIAL investment has ended up in various politician's pockets. Now BIAL is in a situation where HAL is being reopened. Any investment by BIAL will be a purely speculative with no guarantee of passenger and revenue growth anytime in the near future.

Corruption: This is not speculation, I know how much and who, don't ask me how!. This is the root cause for Phase-1 of BIAL being incomplete and also the reason the TATA's pulled out.

--amaku

Devesh

The very first point in the draft policy (of mine) states - 'government to use every means to encourage use of public bus transport services'. The third point of course is 'government to discourage use of all personalized forms of transport, particularly cars' (mind you, not ban). Now, whether you like it or not, these two have to go together, and only then will we have solutions. Admittedly, not many would want to take to the buses, the service (rather the lack of it) being what it is presently. And, that's why we have to have professionalised services.

The future, as far as cities go, is with good professionalised bus services. The earlier the business houses realise this and re-invent their business models to cater to this huge market, rather than continuing to push cars, the better for them, as well as for the cities. Resisting it is like when the bank employee unions of yore tried to resist use of computers, and STD booth operators tried to resist the entry of mobile phones.

I have applied to the government for a license to operate a shuttle service in Koramangala (to begin with). I have worked out the financials based on the current BMTC fares, and even with that, it's a very viable business proposition. And, with necessary incentivisation (as suggested in the draft policy), and with professional handling, it can indeed become a money spinner. What say you use your clout with the government to get me the license, and then we get into a partnership to run the services?

Muralidhar Rao