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HAL: invest before re-opening?

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Written By silkboard - 17 July, 2008

Bangalore Infrastructure HAL Airport Aviation Connectivity suggestion Transportation public transport Aviation

Just for a moment, forget those debates around whether HAL should re-open or not. Lets say a re-opening is coming (via court order, govt forcing its will, or whatever). Then, in the Praja spirit of positivity and high expectations(!), what would be the best ways of re-opening and operating this airport?

For starters, it better be a long term plan, with investments to upgrade the facilities and infrastructure around the airport. Keeping it open for just 3 years will lead to the same old story. Citing planned closure as a reason, AAI or anyone will not invest any serious money. The planned-closure, according to AAI, was the reason they couldn't invest big on the airport over last 3-4 years.

Now, here is this wild idea. What if we re-open HAL as the first pure-public-transport, or zero-parking airport in the world!? Since space is at a premium in this area, we wouldn't have any structures to facilitate parking of cars or cabs. What would that be like? Here are some pictures to dream of this possibility:

[flickr-photo:id=2675905255,size=m]

First up, you would have to make the arrival and departure roads to HAL airport as one ways. That will ensure that big buses can come all the way to the terminal building (PTB).

Apparently, one reason BMTC couldn't run buses till HAL because there wasn't enough space for the buses to move around near PTB. One way approach and exit roads solve some of that. I hear that AAI wants the Indian Oil depot to go away (remember, this has been called out as a safety concern, too close to PTB). With that thing gone, you have a big enough area to work with.

Areas A and B would be available as public transport (Vaayu Vajra, Park and ride shuttles, Hotel shuttles) pick up and drop off points. Area C (which might be available as HAL bus depot is no longer in use now) could be developed as a the nearest park and ride point. Come park your car, take a shuttle or walk to the airport. Private parties could be encouraged to build more park and shuttle areas wherever they wish.

Thinking further, how about forcing the new airport operator to invest on connectivity from surrounding areas. Opening another entry/exit approach or corridors to the airport will be nice, because it would create more options for private parties to build park and ride facilities. How a light/mono rail like thing from Inner Ring Road running around KGA for some distance, and the boundary of HAL airport for most? Provide park and transit complex at the point where this rail would meets IRR, and you take some load off of airport road. Perhaps KGA can offer some land for the purpose. KGA users would sure be happy to pitch in for a re-born airport literally in their backyard :) Anyway, I tried picking out two possibilities for this IRR to Airport link:

[flickr-photo:id=2676890036,size=o]

Love or hate these thoughts, but I only wanted to seed some re-think around HAL via this post. Bottom-line is, if it opens, it better see some creative investments and upgrades, and we should think long term. No 3 years business please, because we know what would happen three years from now - yet another call to keep it open!

Mind you, now is the time to do some construction around HAL airport - while its shut, we have all the time and space to work on it.

COMMENTS

Re: Satellite Check-in Terminals

bialterminal - 18 July, 2008 - 00:29

Where is the need then for the HAL airport if there are satellite checkin terminals? Satellite checkin terminals is in the plan for BIA at BRV grounds. Yes, as you said the idea is an ambitious idea and an expensive one at that but doable. While doing it though, the logic should be to plan a rail network for Bangalore city and fit BIA in as an extension. Building an expensive one for BIA and leaving it at that wouldn't be a wise solution considering the big picture.

Try Alternative Methods

narayan82 - 17 July, 2008 - 14:36

I support your idea. Maybe HAL is a good place to start encouraging public transport. Maybe Taxis and Cars should be BANNED from parking inside. Only Vaayu Vajras/Air Lifts/Shared Taxis from HAL airport to any other part of the city? Would that be too Radical a thought? If HAL does re open I really hope it isnt a stark reality showcase of the pathetic state it was in compared to the new Airport. Also I hear that if HAL is re-opened then it will be so only for 3 years. How much money would a firm invest knowing its going to be shut down in 3 years?

Satellite Check-in Terminals

sandeepmr - 17 July, 2008 - 20:37

Satellite check-in terminals could be built within 5mile radius of the HAL airport which will prevent choking of the main terminal as well as the approach roads. Lets say if there were 2 terminals built 5 miles apart forming a triangle along with the main terminal, people could use these places to park and check-in and if there were a monorail connectivity between the 3, people can finish security checks in the satellite terminals and direclty enter the gates thru the monorail like many international airports. The monrail will be used to ferry the cargo from the sat terminals too.

Just an ambitious idea.

HAL Landside improvements

Devesh - 18 July, 2008 - 12:45

We cannot ban cars and taxis from HAL. The main attraction of HAL as an in-city airport would be lost. However, the VV and other mass transport services should be given greater importance and cars parking should be kept a distance away from the terminal.

If HAL opens, and they way MoCA is behaving, it is a BIG "IF", it will primarily cater to regional flights, many of which will be "day-trippers". So we can expect less baggage, passengers wanting quick entry and exit, and also long term parking should be considered.

I have made some initial ideas about landside improvements. Click on it to get the bigger image.

Long term multi-storey parking near the current departures entrance. Convert the existing parking in front of departures to bus and pick-up/drop off lanes. Convert the front of the arrival to a gallery and allow for freer exits. One pick up lane. ABSOLUTELY NO STANDING. Have Tigers running around.

Remove the IOC deport and that will open up the whole area for a multi-storey premium short term car park.

The one area I am not able to resolve is the movement of arrivals cars. That will entail a cross over. Slight traffic jam.

Satellite check-in for BIAL is understandable, not for HAL. No standing line for taxis. If they want to park, they can use the L/T parking or the S/T parking.

-----------------------

Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

 

Narayan, Your opinion .....

Devesh - 21 July, 2008 - 14:18

Hi Narayan

You have raised a very valid point. The cost of connectivity to the airport is going to cost us 200% to 300% the cost of the airport. Is this a feasible investment ? What should be the stake of the airport operator in this ? Should there be any PPP at all ? Should the connectivity be completely private ?

{Sorry for the digress here and re-opening a potential can of worms. However, please read this and if you choose not to reply or better PM me your reply I will be grateful}.

AAI technical team did an audit from June 16-18. These guys are the walking talking encyclopedia's of IATA's airport terminal design specifications. I do not mean archtectural, but the hard core specs of the various airport sub-systems.

Now I am sticking my neck out here with a deliberate "hypothetical" and you know what I mean. 

Just "hypothetically" speaking ....... once the report is prepared, and the report says that BIAL is already at a Code D level as per IATA specs instead of the required Code A level for a new airport, i.e. already saturated.

Lets assume the report goes on to say that the airport has only 14.6 sqm of floor space per peak hour passenger (PHP) when compared to 36 sqm/PHP at DEL, 35.21 at HYD, 24.15 at CCU, 23.15 at MAA. Please note, global airports like Changi, HKIA, Manila, Beijing, etc., are all >50sqm per PHP. Some in the upper '60s.

Lets assume the report goes on to say that as per IATA recommendation the terminal area for 10 million passengers (remember BLR did 10.12 mn last year) is 150,000 sq mtr, instead of 71,310 sqm at BIAL. Out of which 18,665 sqm is basement not used for passenger facilities but services and utlities instead, thus further reducing the effective terminal area.

Let us also assume that the IATA recommendation of terminal area is based on 15% retail space, whereas BIAL has already dedicated over 30% of area to retail.

Lets assume the report says that due to improper space allocation, import cargo warehouses are already at capacity.

Lets assume that the report shows that based on security hold, processing capacities of the various sub-systems (check-in, security, etc) is 1200 passengers, but the CURRENT peak demand is already at 1320 or higher. http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3252/2689369864_33b0e21aa5_o_d.png

Let us assume that the report calls for IMMEDIATE expansion of BIAL, but we know the expansion will take at least 3 years.

Lets assume this report goes on to recommend that HAL airport be kept open in parallel with BIAL

And let us assume, that a copy of this report is with various Karnataka state government officials, and with BIAL, but is being kept away from the courts because of the the last hypothetical.

.......... then what would be our reaction.

I do not know why we compare BIAL with HAL. HAL terminal represents 10 years ago. BIAL is supposed to represent the future and "world class". Having spent over Rs. 10,000 Cr in resources, in what way are we future-proofing the air transport needs of Bangalore ?

Also, the issue about HAL, is about choice. If you want to fly from BIAL, no one is stopping you. I woud expect you to extend the people wanting to use HAL the same courtesy?

-----------------------

Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

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