Published Aug 30, 2023 | 1:39 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 30, 2023 | 1:39 PM
The new Terminal 2 of Bengaluru puts the 'garden' back in Garden City. (Supplied)
International operations of Terminal 2 (T2) of the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru will commence on 31 August, with its first scheduled flight.
Passengers travelling on Singapore Airlines flight SQ508/SQ509, between Singapore and Bengaluru, will be the first to experience the international zone of the new terminal, a Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) statement said on Wednesday, 30 August.
The terminal — which runs on 100 percent renewable energy — was inaugurated on 11 November last year by Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
IndiGo will be the first Indian carrier to begin international operations in T2, with its flight 6E1167 to Colombo.
All international flights departing and arriving from 10:45 am onwards on 31 August will transition from T1 and start operating from T2, marking a significant milestone for the BLR Airport. Terminal 2 will facilitate 30 to 35 daily international departures on 27 airlines (25 international and 2 Indian).
Hari Marar, MD and CEO of BIAL, said, “The commencement of international operations at Terminal 2 represents a major milestone for BLR Airport. With this move, international operations will be exclusive to T2, while our domestic operations will be divided between T1 and T2.”
Passengers arriving at T2 can expect easy transfers and streamlined immigration and customs procedures, the statement said.
To enhance accessibility to T2, it said that an additional 4.4 km-long access road called the “Terminal Boulevard” was inaugurated earlier this year.
This road connects to T2 departures and arrivals, providing a comfortable drive without traffic signals. Complimentary shuttle services are also available between T1 and T2 at regular intervals for passenger convenience.
Located on the eastern side of Terminal 1, T2 spans an area of 2,55,661 square metres and is equipped to handle 25 million passengers annually.
The terminal is spread over two levels and will have 90 counters and 19 boarding gates. The gates are designed in an L-shape around the main building.
T2 will have both domestic, as well as international flights. The long-term plan is for the old terminal to have only domestic flights, whereas T2 will have select domestic, as well as all international flights.
With an aim to be a biodiversity hotspot, T2 is designed in the style of a garden.
What first greets you when you enter the terminal are colossal bamboo structures and a burst of lush greenery. The walls and the ceilings are covered by a variety of plants. Everything from the check-in counters to the air vents are covered in rattan and bamboo, adding to the aesthetic.
“What makes T2 more special is not just its scale and size, but also the fact that it’s inspired by Bengaluru city. Built as a terminal in a garden, T2 reflects all that Bengaluru stands for — a green, modern, innovative, sustainable, and culturally rich city,” Hari Marar said in the release.
Bronze, bell-shaped structures cascade down from the roof. Each of these structures, which are suspended from the ceiling, houses the many plants in T2.
A total of 620 endemic plants and 3,600-plus plant species make up the landscape — this includes 150 palm species, 7,700 transplanted trees, 100 varieties of lilies, 96 lotus species, and 180 rare, endangered, and threatened species.
The terminal also pays homage to Karnataka’s rich heritage through its arts programme. The artworks follow the theme of the concept of Naurasa or nine emotions.
Visitors can see Krishnaraj Chonat’s copper sculptures, MA Rauf’s Bidri wall art, Dhaatu and Anupama Hosker’s wood puppets, and more. There will also be rotating art exhibits by noted artists from the city throughout the terminal.
(With PTI inputs)
