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<\/p>\nSince its inauguration in 2008, Bangalore\u2019s Kempegowda International Airport(KIA) has made travel easy for passengers passing through the city.<\/p>\n
With its efficiency and infrastructure quality, KIA has become one of the best airports in India and a recognised name globally.<\/p>\n
Yet, many of us are unaware of the years of dedication and planning that has gone in making this modern marvel.<\/p>\n
So, let\u2019s take a look at this airport\u2019s journey and what it has achieved over the years.<\/p>\n
<\/p>\n
Bangalore\u2019s main airport till 2008 was the Hindustan Aeronautics Limited(HAL) airport, which was built in 1942.<\/p>\n
During early 2000\u2019s ,as Bangalore grew into the \u2018Silicon Valley\u2019 of India and the air passenger traffic continued to increase, HAL airport traffic started rising at the rate of roughly 35% per year.<\/p>\n
In fact, between 2006-2007 the airport received 8.2 million passengers, well above its capacity of 3.6 million. Airport authorities had predicted that they would have to face such a situation in the future and were well prepared for it.<\/p>\n
In 1999, Airports Authority Of India(AAI) and the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) signed a Memorandum Of Understanding(MoU) for the development of a new airport in Bangalore. The project, however, kept on getting postponed due to delays in government approval.<\/p>\n
Finally on January 2001,the state government set up the Bangalore International Airport Limited(BIAL) with AAI and KSIIDC. Unique Z\u00fcrich Airport, Siemens Project Ventures and Larsen & Toubro were attracted to this project and invested in it.<\/p>\n
After a lot of government delays and other complications, the airport\u2019s construction finally started on 2nd<\/sup> July 2005. It took 32 months to construct the airport and after a few minor hiccups the Bangalore International Airport was inaugurated in May 2008. The HAL airport was closed down immediately.<\/p>\n In 2009 the State Government sent a proposal to the Union Government to rename the airport. This proposal got accepted in 2013 and the name of the airport was changed from Bangalore International Airport to Kempegowda International Airport.<\/p>\n 1.Bangalore Airport was given the honour of the \u201cBest Airport in India\u201d at the Skytrax \u2018World Airport Awards\u2019 in 2011.<\/p>\n 2.The airport received a \u2018Gold\u2019 rating in Leadership in Energy And Environmental Design(LEED) from Indian Green Building Council(IGBC) in 2013<\/p>\n 3.BIAL received the prestigious \u201cSTAT Times International Award\u201d for Cargo excellence in 2014<\/p>\n 4.KIA was recognised as the \u201cBest Regional Airport in Central Asia\u201d at the Skytrax \u2018World Airport Awards\u2019 In 2015<\/p>\n 5.Bangalore Airport won the award for \u201cBest Regional Airport in India and Central Asia\u201d at the Skytrax \u2018World Airport Awards\u2019 in 2017.<\/p>\n 1.The HAL airport was used by the British Royal Navy to protect India from Japan during World War II.<\/p>\n 2.Bangalore airport was the first airport in India to be developed under a \u201cPublic-Private Partnership\u201d.<\/p>\n 3.The airport has been named after the founder of Bangalore, Nadaprabhu Hiriya Kempe Gowda.<\/p>\nAwards & Recognition<\/h4>\n
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<\/p>\nInteresting Facts About The Bangalore Airport<\/h4>\n
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