Revival of the HAL

 Revival of the HAL

Bangalore is a symbol of the new, modern India. With its flourishing IT & electronic industries as well as its great hospitality, it is a great location for starting any kind of entrepreneurial activity. Bangalore is served by the Kempegowda International Airport and though it started operations only from 2008, it is already the fourth busiest in India in terms of passenger traffic. The number of passengers arriving in the “Silicon City” has increased by 30% in both domestic & foreign areas. 

There have been reports of the KIA reaching “saturation” (such as one published by the AAI in 2011); but have been strongly denied by the KIA management, who feel that the expansion of the airport would solve all issues.  

On the lines of the AAI, I strongly feel that the old HAL Airport must be revived to deal the increasing air traffic. The KIA should be used for both domestic & international purposes, but mainly for tourism, business as well as diplomatic visits. The HAL airport should serve the domestic air routes for the residents of Bangalore. Ask any citizen of cities having more than 2 airports, ex: in Chicago. The O’Hare airport is one of the world’s busiest airports. It handles 66 million passengers in a year, not to mention also in cargo traffic and traffic movements. Not surprisingly, many people natives call it a “huge mess” and “always hassle to get through”. In these times, they use the second airport which is easier to manage, and not so busy. We surely do not want Bangalore to get as “messy and crazy” as the O’Hare, so the revival and development of the HAL must take place so, if not immediately.  

It takes minimum one and a half hours from the city center to reach Bangalore new airport. But, now, since HAL has become obsolete, it takes 15-20 minutes by road to reach. True, “Namma Metro”(metro system in Bangalore) will help in reducing traveling time, yet the time taken from Bangalore City Junction or Kempegowda Bus Terminal to reach both the airports is approximately same, so people would not lose valuable time if they use the old airport. Taxis to the KIA charge more than Rs.500 (approx. $8). I really don’t know whether fleecing is involved here, but the toll charges there does cost some huge amount of money.  

These second airports would also help in serving as smaller airline’s primary hubs. The KIA was used by the defunct Kingfisher; now it is operated by Air Asia India. With the number of new as well as planned airlines in India coming up, the HAL should attract them into making it as their prime focus.   

And the best thing is that you do not have to waste billions of rupees by building a second airport. However, there has to a total revamp in the structure of the HAL Airport. It has to look more modern, trendy as well as eco-friendly. The environmentally-friendly aspect is very important, as the KIA is a significant contributor to air pollution levels in Bangalore.  

Interestingly, a study has found that metros with more than a single airport has better success rates of city governance. 

If we have to look Bangalore as one of India’s most developed cities, it is important to have another airport, not only for economic causes, but also for tourism, infrastructural and environmental reasons. Like a phoenix rising from the ashes, the HAL must be reestablished and allowed to function.