Developing alternate roads to Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) is one budget proposal that might bring some cheer to passengers hit by the heavy toll on the existing road.
However, it is still early days. The Infrastructure Development Department (IDD), tasked with the project, is awaiting a preliminary study by the Karnataka Public Works Department to explore the roads to develop.
Although IDD would fund the project, the cost estimate would be known only after PWD submits a detailed project report, department sources said. However, an alternative will not mean a separate road. Existing roads in the vicinity of the airport will be linked and developed.
“The National Highway is getting crowded. We are looking at an inter-connected approach road factoring in the high airport-bound traffic,” an IDD official told Deccan Herald.
One of the alternate routes could start from Nagavara junction on Outer Ring Road, pass through Thanisandra main road, Bagalur and Mylanahalli before reaching the airport compound. A gate at this point could potentially help passengers reach the airport terminal building much faster than the existing airport road.
This way, they could also escape the heavy toll levied on vehicles by National Highways Authority of India. The project for a four-lane 24-km road had been conceived earlier on this route by the PWD in coordination with the State Infrastructure Development Department. It was originally mooted by the Bangalore International Airport Area Planning Authority.
However, it was reportedly abandoned in the face of pressure from political and real estate interests.
The alternate route was mapped in such a way that it would completely avoid both the toll booth and the trumpet interchange leading to the airport. Airport infrastructure experts felt that a second road would be the most viable option since other alternatives – such as a High Speed Rail Link or a Metro link – are too capital intensive.
“Besides, BBMP has already developed a road through Thanisandra leading to the airport wall,” explained an expert.
