In the future, Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) will expand and improve its terminals and cargo facilities, aiming to increase passenger and cargo handling capacity.
Renovation of Terminal 1 is scheduled to begin in August 2024, with work already underway, to make passenger travel easier. This includes improving baggage, security, and other facilities to accommodate 35 million passengers and transforming foreign locations into domestic locations.
Also, Terminal 2 (T2) is facing a major expansion project. The initial phase of the expansion covers around 255,000 square meters and aims to handle 25 million passengers a year.
The second phase is expected to be completed by 2028. It will add 200,000 square meters, increasing the capacity to 20 million passengers annually.
Currently, Terminal 1 handles 70,000 passengers daily, while the other terminal handles 40,000 passengers.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated Terminal 2 in November 2022. Its values are ‘art’, ‘sustainability’, ‘technology’, and ‘innovation’.
BIAL will analyze the feasibility of building Terminal 3 by the late 2020s or early 2030s. This mega plan aims to increase the airport’s overall handling capacity to 90 to 100 million passengers annually.
Also, plans are afoot to connect T1, T2, and T3 to the rail system for seamless passenger movement. This will replace the current shuttle bus service that runs every 7 to 8 minutes between T1 and T2.
BIAL is working on expanding its cargo handling capabilities as well as passenger growth initiatives. The airport aims to increase its capacity to handle 1 million metric tonnes of cargo annually by the end of the decade.
Ongoing infrastructure projects include the construction of a new domestic cargo terminal and a state-of-the-art logistics park, which will support the growth in cargo volumes. The logistics park, operated by Air India SATS Airport Services (AISATS), will provide a grade-A warehousing area of 370,000 sq ft. It will be equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, including cold storage and custom-bonded facilities.
BIAL Chief Operating Officer Satyaki Raghunath emphasised the airport’s commitment to strengthening its market position in the cargo sector., he described BIAL as a leader in the export of perishable goods, with extensive plans to develop cold chain facilities and terminal infrastructure. reported by the Deccan Herald.
Strategic collaborations with cargo airlines and logistics firms further strengthen BIAL’s ability to provide competitive solutions and maintain high standards in cargo handling services.
BIAL is currently India’s third-largest airport, connecting 76 domestic and 25 overseas destinations with 36 airlines and 13 cargo carriers.