BIAL aims to extend terminal area

BANGALORE: Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) had announced plans for a Rs 1000 crore expansion to Terminal 1 last year and Director of Operations Hari Marar on Monday assured that work on the expansion was going as per schedule.“We will be ready by the first quarter of 2013, the expansion i s on track,” he said.Passenger traffic at the airport currently at 12 million is expected to touch 17 million mark by 2014-15 and BIAL aims to extend the terminal area to 1,34,000 square metres.“We have a responsibility as an airport to take initiatives to promote the region,” said Marar. He was discussing the recent initiative named ‘Kaapi Trail’ by BIAL, Karnataka Tourism and Coffee Board to promote Coffee Tourism in the South.Explaining the ideals behind promoting such ventures, Marar stated that BIAL would play the role of a facilitator in the entire process.“Our role is to co-ordinate and sell the idea to interested parties, the details of it would be sorted out by the respective institutions,” he said adding that the BIAL aims to earn recognition as a worldclass airport catering to the needs of tourists visiting the city.The airport aims to increase passenger revenue by focusing on highlighting various tourist destinations around the city and might in the future look at further collaboration with state tourism agencies to further Banga- lore as a tourist destination.