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We have already discussed long ago on praja that the current road after hebbal flyover is more than enough for BIA for the next year or so..

The same people who raised all the ruckus about connectivity would travel by BIA in the next few days and will think its not bad..

There are teething issues to be sorted like ground handling staff etc..these will be dealt fast I suppose.

We are seeing the Vajra's travelling back full from BIA..they will also start ferrying people in larger numbers from the city to BIA soon too..

This shows the popularity of public transport picking up when distance is considered..this is where the train will be the most important link..

The same people who were talking about not closing HAL should get to gether to put a train on the existing tracks to BIA..

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Sorry for the aggressive stance, but I am very angry at BIAL for not listening to industry, including airlines and aviation related entities.

For the last two months, almost, we have been hearing and reading, how BIAL was fully ready and that it was the Government that was delaying the opening.

If BIAL's contention is true, then the 2 month delay should have only strengthened the operations and infrastructure at BIAL.

The fact of the matter is that there are incomplete "high security" customs bonded cargo warehouses (http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com/2008/05/bials-cargo-warehouse-in-shambles.html), the building meant to house airlines' offices is incomplete, the offices for the cargo and customs agents is far from ready (http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com/2008/05/bial-airport-visit-report.html).

I do not know, how Customs Authorities issued the permissions to the AI-SATS warehouse. Obviously some rules have been bent, if not outright flouted. What pressures were brought is not known.

Crucially required infrastructure is anywhere from 3~6 months away.

We see videos http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/65884/not-a-perfect-takeoff-for-new-bangalore-airport.html showing collapse of ground services at BIAL. In the video some guy in a green T-Shirt is manhandling an airline employee (appears to be Kingfisher Airlines by the uniform).

In case of BIA, the entire ground handling is TOTALLY CONTROLLED by the BIAL appointed ground handling agents Globe Ground and AI-SATS. The airlines have ZERO role in ground handling. Yet, airlines are being made to bear the brunt of passengers' ire, while BIAL and its agents', managements are missing.

The ill effects of the ineptness is having impact beyond Bangalore. http://www.navhindtimes.com/articles.php?Story_ID=052545.

The airlines have no offices, no canteen, heck there are no bathrooms and proper drinking water for the employees at the airport, including immigration and customs. They are out there in the front, without sleep, without proper food, fire-fighting for its passengers, on a fiasco, not of their making. Is it any wonder why there are staffing problems already ?

What was BIAL doing for these last two months ? If this is the lack of infrastructure and process, imagine our plight if the airport had open 2 months earlier.

Did BIAL lie to Bangalore when it claimed to be ready for take-off on March 30th ?

In case of cargo, representatives of BIAL, Menzies and AI-SATS came to a public meeting, of the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce, in early March 2008, and in front of press, assured industry members that "they would be fully ready by March 30th". Their "assurances" lie exposed and in shambles.

On the passenger front, you have to decide.

Keep in mind, if we do not ensure the comfort of those who ensure our comfort and safety, the system will collapse. I wrote about this aspect in my article. http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com/2008/04/bengaluru-international-airport-cannot.html

Obviously BIAL read the pulse of Bangaloreans correctly. We were shown a good looking passenger terminal, and we, as expected, we fell for the "Hawa Mahal". We just gushed in awe and did not bother looking beyond the facade.

HAL was not comfortable, but it was functioning, in ALL aspects, passengers, cargo and employees. We have been forced to close this functioning airport, and move to a facility that is far from ready, and obviously not fully functional, and we are being given a lolipop of "teething troubles".

All these days, BIAL has been harping on the sanctity of a contract.

Will we hold BIAL to the sanctity of the unwritten contract, to provide public infrastructure on a FAIR basis and to provide us the TRUE picture.

Right now, this does not appear to be the case.

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

Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

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

 

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What is the next best solution to this cargo situation other than the "keep HAL airport open". Is is possible to get redressal in the form of compensation if goods are damaged or inconvinience is caused due to this? Is there an authority for cargo handlers (like DGCA) which can enforce standards for cargo?

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Teething troubles are quite normal for any kind of infrastructure of this scale.

All those constructions are already underway & will be over soon. If one is expecting perfection from the word go, then it's wishful thinking. BIAL needs to be given time to experience & understand what problems remain & how they could be solved.

I went thro' detroit int'l airport when it was first opened & had my baggage chewed up by the baggage belts. A claim was settled almost six months later.

I think these sort of more serious problems are not being faced & BIAL needs support & encouragement to do better & get over these irritants. If we are positive & support them, things might work out faster than if we are negative & criticize them all the time.

 

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Attached below is a snapshot of the traffic growing by the minute near Mekhri Circle today evening [approx. 6.30 PM]

Traffic has indeed started to show its true colors now ....

[{Admin} - pasted the pics here]

[flickr-photo:id=2518914476,size=m][flickr-photo:id=2518096755,size=m][flickr-photo:id=2518912754,size=m]

--Prash--

 

 

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