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I am an angry Bangalorean today.
For two months, we have been hearing stories as to how the new Bengaluru International Airport was FULLY ready, and that the Government was denying the BIAL permission to commence operations of its new airport, thus causing untold losses to the consortium.
Looking to prevent a repeat of the fiasco following the launch of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, many people and bodies connected with the aviation industry, had advised a planned and incremental approach to commencing full blown operations at the new airport. Commence with international passengers, then move international cargo, and finally domestic passenger and cargo, 6 months later.
BIAL refused. They fought and got permission to commence full blown operations; and immediately ran in to, what it described as, “teething problems”.
Quoting from a story in The Hindu “As the drama unfolded in the morning, some airline operators called the new airport a “complete mess”, and struggled to deal with the passengers’ ire.”
The Times of India story describes other horrors with airport operations.
In an earlier article I have posted pictures, taken just 24 hours before start of its operations, of a totally incomplete cargo warehouse. A “high security”, customs bonded, warehouse that was assured to be ready before the original airport opening date of March 30, 2008, two months earlier.
The CNN-IBN video shows the total collapse of ground services at BIAL. In the video some guy in a green T-Shirt is manhandling an airline employee.
Unlike RGIA, at BIAL, the entire ground handling is TOTALLY CONTROLLED by the BIAL appointed agents. The airlines have ZERO role in ground handling. Yet, airlines are having to bear the brunt of passengers’ ire, since the management of BIAL and its agents’ are nowhere to be found.
The ill effects of the BIAL’s agent’s ineptness are having impact well beyond Bangalore. The NavHind Times from Goa has this story of a flight from Bangalore to Goa that landed without the baggage.
The airlines have no offices. There are reports, that employees at the airport, have totally inadequate food canteens, the bathrooms meant for them are so badly maintained, that, in desperation, they are having to fight security staff to use passenger bathrooms, and proper drinking water is a distant dream
Yet, they are the ones, out there in the front, without sleep, and without proper food, fire-fighting for their passengers’ basic comforts, on a fiasco, not of their making. Is it any wonder why there are staffing problems already ?
BIAL, and their supporters, have been claiming that the airport was FULLY READY since March 30. That was two months ago.
Obviously BIAL has not used the two month delay constructively, since crucially required infrastructure, is still 3~6 months away. Imagine our plight, if the airport had opened two months earlier.
A simple thing like no water, are not teething problems. Not maintaining bathrooms, are not teething problems. Having an incomplete “high security”, customs bonded, cargo warehouse, when it was guaranteed to be ready 2 months ago, are not teething problems. Not having offices or basic food canteens for airlines’ employees, are not teething problems. These are failures due to sheer un-preparedness.
I have said this before. If we do not ensure the proper working condition and comfort, of those who ensure our comfort and safety, the system will collapse.
Did BIAL lie to Bangalore when it claimed to be ready for take-off on March 30th ? May be not, but for sure, they did not tell the whole truth.
In fact, one service that performed flawlessly, was the Government owned, BMTC’s, Vayu Vajra airport Volvo bus service.
We have to stop being BIAL apologists. The BIAL consortium are supposed to be “specialists” with years of experience in airport operations. They are not amateurs, and should be held to higher standards.
BIAL management and those of IT’S agents should on scene, taking personal charge, helping and sorting out the problems. Mr. Brunner’s presence at the airport will send the much needed signals to everyone, to shape up.
After all this is sorted out, we should BIAL’s hold feet to the fire. They have up till now, shown complete inflexibility, and waved their contract in face of this nation. Now it is time to show them the same treatment.
Put together an independent body, comprised of equal representation from BIAL, Government, Airlines, Cargo and Customs Agents, Industry and Passengers. This body will ensure committed delivery dates of infrastructure, and monitor service levels for the first six months. Any slip, and cough up cash, M/s BIAL. This same body can then continue to act like a permanent, independent service monitoring body, armed with penal powers.
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 look beyond the façade.
HAL was not comfortable airport by any means, but at least it was functioning one; and in ALL aspects — passengers, cargo and employees. Bangalore has been forced to close this functioning airport, and move to a facility that is far from ready, and obviously not fully functional.
All these days, BIAL has been harping on the sanctity of their contract with India.
It time we hold BIAL to the sanctity of the unwritten contract, to provide public infrastructure on a FAIR basis, while providing the residents of Bangalore, the TRUE and COMPLETE picture.
Right now, this does not appear to be the case.
Completely agree, BIAL, show us what we are getting for the UDF that you are charging. From whatever photos I have seen the terminal looks more overcrowded than Majestic bus stand. Test the Swiss expertise against higher standards. Devesh, is there a chance that you could use your offices to question Mr. Brunner and the BIAL management on the questions that you have raised in your post?
I am willing to meet Mr. Brunner any day at a time of his convenience. I want BIAL to succeed and at the same time provide value for money services to the city of Bangalore, its residents, its industry and commerce, and its visitors.
If anyone at BIAL is reading this blog or comment, please accept this request.
Reading the compilation of experiences here http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=248849&page=122
it sounds like disaster from the word GO
Looks like what I had predicted is happening, and worse than expected.
Disaster, Disaster,
Thou art a cruel master,
to strike on birth,
when we were filled with mirth.
Ready to fly high,
From B’lore to Dubai,
The flight is nigh,
but the ATC just died.
Too bad said The Fate,
its not me you should hate.
After all Mr. Bangalorean,
its you own damn fault.
Hope the new govt has better sense.
For one, international airlines, which fly widebody aircraft, unlike domestic carriers, cannot park their planes even if one aerobridge is free. Reason: although BIA has eight aerobridges, only 4-5 widebody aircraft can park because the space in between hasn’t been accounted for.
http://www.skyscrapercity.com/showthread.php?t=248849&page=123
Irrespective of how bad the problem is and who is responsible I am aghast to see the manhandling of the airline employee in the video (http://www.ibnlive.com/videos/65884/not-a-perfect-takeoff-for-new-bangalore-airport.html). The same people would not dare to do this in Heathrow or anywhere in the US. Heathrow has signs clearly mentioning assaults/intimidation against employees would be taken seriously and prosecuted to the fullest extent of law.
I was witness to a an incident in Seattle-Tacoma airport where an unruly passenger her hands on the counter in a violent gesture and shouted bit** at female employee. Promptly a police officer showed up who interviewed me as to what I witnessed. When I told him what I saw, the lady was promptly escorted away.
No matter what, people have to behave and law enforcement has to be strict, period! A major part of the problems are the people themselves who are unwilling to behave, follow rules&instructions and keep blaming others for everything. In India you can get away with anything and unchecked violence seen in the above video serves as encouragement. You put people of the same mentality in charge of BIAL , confusion seen in the video will be the same result. I am sure everybody is blaming the other for the fiasco without any accountability being there, what will poor Brunner do?
This comment is to clarify on an earlier comment questioning the presence of 108 check in counters at HIAL. I had the occasion to verify this claim and it is indeed true.
The check in area has
Two rows of 24 CUTE hand baggage only check in counters = 48
Two rows of 18 CUTE check-in baggage terminals = 36
Two half-rows of 12 CUTE check-in baggage terminals = 24
Two half-rows of 8 CUSS kiosks = 16
A Total of 108+16=124 check in counters in all.
BIAL with 53 falls way short.
If you get the opportunity, do visit HIAL. On the surface, it is way way superior to BIAL. With your aviation expertise, you may be able to look beyond the veneer to find deficiencies , if any.