CM not happy with Bangalore Airport!
So apparently, our CM of a 100 odd days is not happy with the new airport.
In his list are a few reasons why including the fact that it’s not up to international standards and the facilities for customers are not good enough. Of course, the fact that the airport was not built under his government might just be another reason.
But does he have plans to do anything to make it better is what he didn’t say much about.
I have not travelled to the new airport as yet. But I know the travel times have been anything between 1-3 hours for people depending on where they live, time of day and the state of the roads.
The other slightly alarming news I came across the other day is the number of deaths on the road to the new airport. Since it’s possibly the only remaining good stretch of road, vehicles speed up way out of the limits mowing down animals and pedestrians on the path. Maybe they need to install some kind of speed monitors on this stretch to stop this loss of lives.
Though we wrote a lot about the airport when it was being constructed, there hasn’t been much about the “post-opening” experiences.
Anyone with interesting experiences to share on their travels (to) and travails (of) the new airport?
Personally I liked the airport. Its quite nice and neat. There are enough facilities to reach there. But of course, it does take 2 hours from my place and there are no doubts about that. But thats in almost every country. To reach the Airport, it really does take time, minimum an hour. Though I do feel the pinch on this respect, since my earlier travel time to airport was only 10 min by walk. I really liked the Book Store there, and a nice place to sit and read the same with in a nice cafe. I did like my experience.
I was there just after 2 days of its opening and again a month later .
I would say its adequate for now. The number of check in counters and security check counters , enough seating for passengers waiting for boarding. The cafe is a bit expensive. Toilets were disappointing, not big enough and not at all neat.
I would say that Airport is fine for today but i dont think a lot o forecasting has been done in the making of it. May very well fall short of space and facilities in about 2 years unless they continue to impove and expand. have not heard of any plans (I may be ignorant in that area)
There is one problem with most important roads with Bangalore which affects the road to the airport as well.
No markers whatsoever for speed-breakers (or, humps).
So, I am racing on the road at the recommended (that’s right ! The boards for speed limit actually show it) speed of 80 kmph and well-honed instincts made me decelerate as I noticed a few folks at quite a distance standing on either sides of road trying to cross the road. Yes, I was right. A speed-breaker (or, hump) barely 10 meters from the signboard that recommended a top speed of 80 kmph.
The solution is perhaps, simple and obvious. Embed the blinking display (LED ?) lights onto the road which already dot most roads within Bangalore. Otherwise a very prominent display for the speed-breaker. It will help a lot of drivers (especially at night) to avoid cursing and cussing and having to screech to slow only to end up in a bone-rattling jolt.
@Prasad,
Does the airport provide WiFi facility – paid or free ?
@geeksand,
You know, couple of weeks ago, I was watching a Discovery channel documentary about creating a new terminal in Biejing airport to handle the huge influx of people for the Olympics. I think, they had to create a third terminal (called T3). And, guess what ? Half-way through construction, new aviation data pointed out that they would require a T4 !
So, prediction is always hard. The only good thing that we can hope for is, there is enough "buffer" to "cushion" the expansion – should it come to that.
oh and another interesting note. The narrator went on to say how a certain piece of land that was acquired had a good number of residents staying there and hence had to be relocated. The diction was so smooth that one would be forced to think what would have happened if this happened in India. (Just look at Singur).
I came to know that the govt is planning to have all signals from KR Puram to Hebbal, if you take a right turn, you can reach the airport. Thought it could be a long term plan, work seems to have started, and this might actually reduce the time/traffic on the Bellary road to reach the airport.
I suspect that all the things he said about other problems in the state go unreported.
@cogitoergosum
I dont remember seeing the Wifi anywhere. And since I wasnt carrying my laptop, I didnt feel the need of it to check.
Anyone here knows about this?
The airport is a massive improvement.
Wireless is free if you’re willing to let them know your mobile phone number. I used it and I’m waiting for the obligatory SMS spam that will arrive any moment now. (I’ll never give my mobile number to a BJN restaurant again, nor will I call one for a reservation. Do not give them your mobile number.)
The road to the is still a problem. The problem is not speeding vehicles; it’s the moronic way people cross the highway at night without looking to see who is coming. When some villager gets killed for his own stupidity, the solution here is to insert a speed-breaker which then further kills dozens more who don’t see it and others who assume they can cross with impunity because "there is a speed-breaker". These illegal speed-breakers need some governance.
As others have mentioned, the airport is adequate today, but one can easily imagine it being overloaded and filthy in no time.
The restaurants are way overpriced, especially the one that sells indian breakfast items.
150 rupees for a pint-bottle of kingfisher is a rip-off, but at least you can have a beer before your flight.
The immigration personnel are as slow and unfriendly as ever. It was more than 30 minutes to get through last night.
The taxi-touts are out in force. They were absent when the airport first opened, and it was heavenly. Now, once again you are hassled non-stop upon leaving the baggage-claim area. Hassled inside by the Leela and Oberoi jerks, and then outside by all the taxi drivers. A very unpleasant experience, and one that lends a strong "third-world" atmosphere which is absent in the rest of the airport.