"Dreams come true" - screamed many news papers, announcing inauguration of the Bengaluru International Airport, at the outskirts of the city. This new airport has been in the news - ever since it was conceived and everybody was convinced that a growing city like Bengaluru needs a better airport than the existing one. That way the new airport has been hogging the limelight - and the headlines in newspapers, on many occasions. Delays in project, project funding, consortium coming to existence, approval by central Govt for new airport, ground-breaking ceremony, work-in-progress, delay in commissioning, postponing the dates for commercial operations, etc, had its share of news making capabilities and occupying headlines for over few years now. Needless to say, amount of land some of the politicians and government officials have grabbed has been the subject of discussions in and around the airport, including in city buses for over a few years! And this airport was even a subject of discussions in some of the election campaigning, when a chief minister of a neighboring state made it a election issue – to drive home his views that had it been congress in power in the state, this airport would have been ready long ago !!. All along many of us were kind of neutral – but we cant be any more now – because it is for real – airport is in operation.
I am one of the frequent flyers – using the airport facilities quite frequently. Passengers like me, must have been thinking reaching out to airport would be a nightmare !. Anyway, my nightmares came true – on the very first day of commercial operation of Bengaluru new Airport !. Eversince I heard that the new airport is coming up at Devanahally, I always feared the fate of passengers who will have to fly Bengaluru – Chennai from this new airport. To reach this new airport from southern part of city – it would take not less than 2 hours. Add this to 1 hour of compulsory check in time before the departure. In all one would have to keep minimum three to four hours in hand to catch a flight – whose flying time is 35 minutes !. And from Chennai airport to city centre – add one hour. In all about 5 hours of time to reach Chennai, which can be achieved on road!. The very thought of this use to make me feel tired even before embarking the journey. I don’t want to depress you readers by saying getting into Chennai weather from Bengaluru itself is a big de-motivating factor!!
My flight to Chennai was scheduled at 3.50 pm. I had to book a taxi from my office in Koramangala. Since it was a Saturday, I was hoping the journey would not be a pain – in the sense there would be very less traffic on streets on Saturday afternoon. Afterall, we are in silicon city – where many of my colleagues from IT and ITES sector would not come out of weekend hangover!. This is the belief and kindles the hope that the city roads would be free from chaotic traffic and endless pollution. However, I wanted to reach the new airport with more than one hour in hand to flight, to take a tour of the airport. With all the hype this airport had created over a period of time, I was eagerly looking forward to seeing the new airport, expecting a world-class facility akin to Singapore or Hong Kong airports. So decided to reach the airport by 2 PM, to catch flight at 3.50 PM
As a first option to reach airport, I selected airliftonline taxi from their website. I was impressed by the services of this provider which was mentioned in my friend Bharat Ram’s blog. Details provided by Bharat was so alluring, I did not want to look beyond this service to reach airport. So entered my travel details on their website on Friday itself. Provided all necessary information and as assured on the website, was waiting for their call, confirming the timing for the taxi to pick me up to airport. However, considering the fact that it would be their first day of operations, and it is a long way to airport, I decided to keep a “plan B” handy. Second option was the “vayuvajra” service of BMTC. Called up their helpline to find out the nearby stop and timings to reach airport. I was told that they have a service from near Forum mall to Airport. That was quite a song to ears. But here comes the rider – the service operates between 8 AM to 11 AM; and then resumes again between 5 PM to 9 PM. Is it not funny – to time arrivals and departures only for 8 hours a day? that too in an international airport? Whatever – I was clear - this is not an option for ‘Plan B’ for the day!.
The only option left for me to reach airport was our ever dependable call taxi. So, booked it – to come for pick up at 12 Noon. My calculation was it would take two hours in journey and I would reach airport by 2 PM. And then look around for an hour and check-in. So far so good!. The expedition to airport now starts.
I was eagerly waiting for taxi – from 12 noon!. I was not worried till 12.30 PM as I had enough time to reach airport. As usual the transport provider gave all usual excuses – taxi is in petrol bunk; to fill in petrol, driver is on his way, caught in traffic jam and what not! Finally, the taxi reached office at 1 PM. Still enough time to catch 3.50 PM flight.
Though it was a city taxi – driver did not want to put the meter down!. When I kind of shouted at him for this adventure, he says – airport drop is Rs. 750 – and now the taxis have changed the per km charge to Rs. 15/- with immediate effect for the airport drop. I had to protest – first for the delay and now for this unilateral decision. Though I was in a hurry; I did not want the driver to have his way, which according to me was taking the benefit out of situation!. With my protests and cajoling – I could bring it down to Rs. 12/- per km and payable only for the actual kilometers.
Journey to airport started – at sharp 1 PM. Driver promised me to take to airport before 2.30 PM. His confidence got the shot in the arm with smooth sailing across the first hurdle – MG Road. We thought it would take at least 30 minutes – to reach High point and Palace street. But we made it in less than 25 minutes. I still believe in the saying – job well started is half done! But later realized – it is only well begun – and the half done is a state of mind – not on road; at least that day in Bangalore!.
Soon after this, the nightmare started to show in real – the first of the series to come in the form of traffic jam at Windsor manor bridge. With every passing minute, I was getting restless. Driver kept on promising me, he can reach me to airport sharp 2.30, provided he need not encounter this jam. It took good 20 minutes to make anything called decent move out of the jam under this bridge. By this time driver has made amends to his promises – now he can reach me by 2.50 PM; along with a rider – provided there is not much of a problem at Mekri Circle. I was also hoping so; rather dreaming it will not be. But reality was different again.
Before encountering problems at Mekri circle, the BDA junction wanted to add its share to woes – made me literally strangled for about 30 minutes. No movement of whatsoever in the traffic condition. While in car, I realized - no way the driver can reach me to airport before 3 PM – and that only means I would be late for my 3.50 flight. I had to call my secretary and get the flight changed – from 3.50 flight to 5.20 flight – Jet airways. This was the only option I could think of to salvage the situation.
After the BDA junction the next hurdle was at Mekhri circle – and for again good 20 minutes – by the time we left this junction it was almost 2.30 PM. After this the ride was on pretty expected lines. Not much of hurdles – and the driver has changed his expected time of reaching airport to 3 PM !. But the actual time when I reached airport was 3.15 PM.
All along the way, I was imagining a huge, big and neat airport – ala Singapore / Hong kong type!. This airport had created such a huge hype in terms of its capacity, facility etc., the expectation were running high in my mind. The moment I reached airport, the first thing came to my mind was - alas, not big enough for a growing city like Bangalore.
Airport is neat, clean – no second thoughts on that. There were enough check-in-counters, but people had gathered in front of every counter with show much of anxiety and disappointment written all over their faces. There are more than 15 kiosks – but none of them working. Worst part – there was no sign or information that the kiosk is not working; and in front of every kiosk passengers are desperately trying check in through kiosk. Possibly the first day glitch – systems are not working! Every flight is delayed – some by almost two hours!. In the hindsight, had I not changed my flight, I could have managed to catch my flight of 3.50 PM, even at 4 pm.
I really wonder, whether this airport is sufficient enough to handle the burgeoning flyers of Bangalore? There are not enough chairs to sit in the check-in area; possibly the idea is to make the passengers to enter into security check-in area immediately?
There is a huge shopping area on the mezzanine floor; which is security check-in area. Half of this shopping area is occupied by Shoppers Stop. I really wonder how many will shop in though. It is huge; and quite disproportionate to the size of the total shopping area in the airport. Was such a huge shopping arcade was required – that too in a domestic departure terminus? I wonder.
One welcome change is the food court. It is quite thoughtful of the management to provide sufficient options for food. After such a long and tiring journey, one needs something – not just to satisfy the taste buds but to recoup some lost energy in reaching the never-in-sight airport!.
Seating in front of entry gates is just not sufficient. These days most of the flights run full; and the average flight capacity is about 150 passengers per flight. But in front of the gate, we have hardly 50-60 seating provided. All others have to hang around the shopping mall or the food court. I did not get a chance to sit, with that my plans of checking out the wifi enabled services of the airport remained a dream to be realized at a later trip to the airport.
The pranks by first day at airport had its share of joy in many more places. It could be the announcement system, information kiosk or even the bus-service till the aircraft, everywhere we had problems and problems. The best was something told by one of the co-passengers, who had traveled in the morning from Chennai and landed at the new airport. After landing announcement was made that since passenger-boarding-bridge facility is provided all the passengers were requested to make exit from the front door only. But it took more than 15 minutes for the passengers to make a move through the exit – problem was, the passenger boarding bridge gate was locked and the key was misplaced!!.
On my return – after a good two days, I found still some of the teething problems were ruling the airport. Luggage arrival was the choking point this time; and at least there were loads of people to assure you that everything will be alright in a few minutes.
At the exit hall, I noticed one welcome board, which I found funny. That’s why I clicked a photo and attached here. Bengaluru International Airport, reads the board – welcome to Bangalore !
Return journey from Airport to city was not that painful. Traffic was much less. Work was completed at one of the bottleneck - BDA junction, and the traffic flow was smooth. In the days to come, the vayu vajra – the hitech bus service of BMTC to airport, would gain lot of popularity. It will not be a surprise if all the return passengers start using these bus services and a day might come soon, wherein the taxi guys from Bangalore would ask for double meter, as they would not get any passenger returning in their unfriendly taxis.
I am one of the frequent flyers – using the airport facilities quite frequently. Passengers like me, must have been thinking reaching out to airport would be a nightmare !. Anyway, my nightmares came true – on the very first day of commercial operation of Bengaluru new Airport !. Eversince I heard that the new airport is coming up at Devanahally, I always feared the fate of passengers who will have to fly Bengaluru – Chennai from this new airport. To reach this new airport from southern part of city – it would take not less than 2 hours. Add this to 1 hour of compulsory check in time before the departure. In all one would have to keep minimum three to four hours in hand to catch a flight – whose flying time is 35 minutes !. And from Chennai airport to city centre – add one hour. In all about 5 hours of time to reach Chennai, which can be achieved on road!. The very thought of this use to make me feel tired even before embarking the journey. I don’t want to depress you readers by saying getting into Chennai weather from Bengaluru itself is a big de-motivating factor!!
My flight to Chennai was scheduled at 3.50 pm. I had to book a taxi from my office in Koramangala. Since it was a Saturday, I was hoping the journey would not be a pain – in the sense there would be very less traffic on streets on Saturday afternoon. Afterall, we are in silicon city – where many of my colleagues from IT and ITES sector would not come out of weekend hangover!. This is the belief and kindles the hope that the city roads would be free from chaotic traffic and endless pollution. However, I wanted to reach the new airport with more than one hour in hand to flight, to take a tour of the airport. With all the hype this airport had created over a period of time, I was eagerly looking forward to seeing the new airport, expecting a world-class facility akin to Singapore or Hong Kong airports. So decided to reach the airport by 2 PM, to catch flight at 3.50 PM
As a first option to reach airport, I selected airliftonline taxi from their website. I was impressed by the services of this provider which was mentioned in my friend Bharat Ram’s blog. Details provided by Bharat was so alluring, I did not want to look beyond this service to reach airport. So entered my travel details on their website on Friday itself. Provided all necessary information and as assured on the website, was waiting for their call, confirming the timing for the taxi to pick me up to airport. However, considering the fact that it would be their first day of operations, and it is a long way to airport, I decided to keep a “plan B” handy. Second option was the “vayuvajra” service of BMTC. Called up their helpline to find out the nearby stop and timings to reach airport. I was told that they have a service from near Forum mall to Airport. That was quite a song to ears. But here comes the rider – the service operates between 8 AM to 11 AM; and then resumes again between 5 PM to 9 PM. Is it not funny – to time arrivals and departures only for 8 hours a day? that too in an international airport? Whatever – I was clear - this is not an option for ‘Plan B’ for the day!.
The only option left for me to reach airport was our ever dependable call taxi. So, booked it – to come for pick up at 12 Noon. My calculation was it would take two hours in journey and I would reach airport by 2 PM. And then look around for an hour and check-in. So far so good!. The expedition to airport now starts.
I was eagerly waiting for taxi – from 12 noon!. I was not worried till 12.30 PM as I had enough time to reach airport. As usual the transport provider gave all usual excuses – taxi is in petrol bunk; to fill in petrol, driver is on his way, caught in traffic jam and what not! Finally, the taxi reached office at 1 PM. Still enough time to catch 3.50 PM flight.
Though it was a city taxi – driver did not want to put the meter down!. When I kind of shouted at him for this adventure, he says – airport drop is Rs. 750 – and now the taxis have changed the per km charge to Rs. 15/- with immediate effect for the airport drop. I had to protest – first for the delay and now for this unilateral decision. Though I was in a hurry; I did not want the driver to have his way, which according to me was taking the benefit out of situation!. With my protests and cajoling – I could bring it down to Rs. 12/- per km and payable only for the actual kilometers.
Journey to airport started – at sharp 1 PM. Driver promised me to take to airport before 2.30 PM. His confidence got the shot in the arm with smooth sailing across the first hurdle – MG Road. We thought it would take at least 30 minutes – to reach High point and Palace street. But we made it in less than 25 minutes. I still believe in the saying – job well started is half done! But later realized – it is only well begun – and the half done is a state of mind – not on road; at least that day in Bangalore!.
Soon after this, the nightmare started to show in real – the first of the series to come in the form of traffic jam at Windsor manor bridge. With every passing minute, I was getting restless. Driver kept on promising me, he can reach me to airport sharp 2.30, provided he need not encounter this jam. It took good 20 minutes to make anything called decent move out of the jam under this bridge. By this time driver has made amends to his promises – now he can reach me by 2.50 PM; along with a rider – provided there is not much of a problem at Mekri Circle. I was also hoping so; rather dreaming it will not be. But reality was different again.
Before encountering problems at Mekri circle, the BDA junction wanted to add its share to woes – made me literally strangled for about 30 minutes. No movement of whatsoever in the traffic condition. While in car, I realized - no way the driver can reach me to airport before 3 PM – and that only means I would be late for my 3.50 flight. I had to call my secretary and get the flight changed – from 3.50 flight to 5.20 flight – Jet airways. This was the only option I could think of to salvage the situation.
After the BDA junction the next hurdle was at Mekhri circle – and for again good 20 minutes – by the time we left this junction it was almost 2.30 PM. After this the ride was on pretty expected lines. Not much of hurdles – and the driver has changed his expected time of reaching airport to 3 PM !. But the actual time when I reached airport was 3.15 PM.
All along the way, I was imagining a huge, big and neat airport – ala Singapore / Hong kong type!. This airport had created such a huge hype in terms of its capacity, facility etc., the expectation were running high in my mind. The moment I reached airport, the first thing came to my mind was - alas, not big enough for a growing city like Bangalore.
Airport is neat, clean – no second thoughts on that. There were enough check-in-counters, but people had gathered in front of every counter with show much of anxiety and disappointment written all over their faces. There are more than 15 kiosks – but none of them working. Worst part – there was no sign or information that the kiosk is not working; and in front of every kiosk passengers are desperately trying check in through kiosk. Possibly the first day glitch – systems are not working! Every flight is delayed – some by almost two hours!. In the hindsight, had I not changed my flight, I could have managed to catch my flight of 3.50 PM, even at 4 pm.
I really wonder, whether this airport is sufficient enough to handle the burgeoning flyers of Bangalore? There are not enough chairs to sit in the check-in area; possibly the idea is to make the passengers to enter into security check-in area immediately?
There is a huge shopping area on the mezzanine floor; which is security check-in area. Half of this shopping area is occupied by Shoppers Stop. I really wonder how many will shop in though. It is huge; and quite disproportionate to the size of the total shopping area in the airport. Was such a huge shopping arcade was required – that too in a domestic departure terminus? I wonder.
One welcome change is the food court. It is quite thoughtful of the management to provide sufficient options for food. After such a long and tiring journey, one needs something – not just to satisfy the taste buds but to recoup some lost energy in reaching the never-in-sight airport!.
Seating in front of entry gates is just not sufficient. These days most of the flights run full; and the average flight capacity is about 150 passengers per flight. But in front of the gate, we have hardly 50-60 seating provided. All others have to hang around the shopping mall or the food court. I did not get a chance to sit, with that my plans of checking out the wifi enabled services of the airport remained a dream to be realized at a later trip to the airport.
The pranks by first day at airport had its share of joy in many more places. It could be the announcement system, information kiosk or even the bus-service till the aircraft, everywhere we had problems and problems. The best was something told by one of the co-passengers, who had traveled in the morning from Chennai and landed at the new airport. After landing announcement was made that since passenger-boarding-bridge facility is provided all the passengers were requested to make exit from the front door only. But it took more than 15 minutes for the passengers to make a move through the exit – problem was, the passenger boarding bridge gate was locked and the key was misplaced!!.
On my return – after a good two days, I found still some of the teething problems were ruling the airport. Luggage arrival was the choking point this time; and at least there were loads of people to assure you that everything will be alright in a few minutes.
At the exit hall, I noticed one welcome board, which I found funny. That’s why I clicked a photo and attached here. Bengaluru International Airport, reads the board – welcome to Bangalore !
Return journey from Airport to city was not that painful. Traffic was much less. Work was completed at one of the bottleneck - BDA junction, and the traffic flow was smooth. In the days to come, the vayu vajra – the hitech bus service of BMTC to airport, would gain lot of popularity. It will not be a surprise if all the return passengers start using these bus services and a day might come soon, wherein the taxi guys from Bangalore would ask for double meter, as they would not get any passenger returning in their unfriendly taxis.
Take a look at some of these pics of this airport here.
2 comments:
Now that the airport is about 3 weeks old - things are a little better than it was when the airport was only 3 days in operation.Today,(13/6/08) the aerobridge worked well and the toilets worked even better ( a week back toilets were out of order).The airport certainly has a world class look.There are good options for food.The free wi-fi internet works well.
Every aspect of the airport is well thought of except for the chairs for the CRPF on duty at the airport entrance (glass door entrance). In an otherwise slick glass and steel look - they sit on rickety chairs which look like they have been got from the old HAL airport and should have no place in the new scheme of things.
Congratulations Mr.Brunner, well done!
An airport proud Bangaluruian
Been to the Bangalore Airport about three weeks back - things certainly looked better than the first day, but some brilliant engineer must have missed out a few zeros while calculating the seating requirement at the departure gates ! Or is this a well calculated commercial ploy to make sure that passengers visit the overpriced shops ?
About the journey to and from the airport, well, the taxifare's almost as much as the air ticket !
While one understands that in today's world, airports are supposed to be away from the city, providing an affordable public transportation system comes with the development of any airport. Look at Bangkok or KL, for example.
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