Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), as part of its ongoing commitment to operational excellence and safety, today announced a plan for the upgrading of its runway. The work will be carried out in a phased manner in certain parts, involving closure of the runway and in other parts, partial closure of facilities without any impact on airport operations.

The closure will be applicable between 10.30 to 17:00 from 19 February to 30 April 2017. The balance activities will be carried out subsequently, with minimal impact to airport operations. In early February the runway will be closed for the rehearsals and show timings for the Aero India 2017. The closure of the runway for the upgradation work has been planned so as to commence work during this period.

These works have been necessitated in order to support the growing air traffic at the Bengaluru Airport. The runway upgrading will include building of two Rapid Exit Taxiways (RET) to increase runway capacity. Currently, the runway has the capability of handling 38 air traffic movements (ATM) per hour, the additional RETs could increase the ATM capacity to 48 per hour.

In order to enhance the capacity of the runway, BIAL has decided to go ahead with the building of two Rapid Exit Taxiways during the above period, so as to complete the activity before the onset of monsoons in May.

BIAL said it has taken into view the long-term benefit of increased capacity for the upcoming seasons until the second runway becomes operational by September 2019.