Wednesday, June 18, 2008

Our Own BIAL (Bangalore International Airport Limited)

Of course!!! A lot has been written about the BIAL, rather in disheartening and negative way...

With due respects, to who so ever have said, spoken or written so much (negatively) about BIAL would have done so cos of some vested interest...it’s my personal opinion....

i had (and wish will always have) a total out-n-out positive experiences with the BIAL...

Tons and reams of paper has been wasted to write about, discuss about, accuse one on another. More so that one of the Leading news paper, came up with an article saying "Devanayelli??".... Contradicting that, one of the business head of the same media house in an informal gathering was seen saying, BIAL is one of the best airport he has seen, with good infrastructure, connectivity, facilities etc. that’s other story when one in crowd asked him, then why did you carry the editorial campaign… sheepish smile of the person said all….

Let me put across my experience > >

My mind was totally occupied, confused and impatient; with all the info I had about the BIAL - - too far to travel, the connectivity issue, transport problem, traffic, infrastructure etc etc with my hands-on experience i would categorically deny and disagree with each and every Media report...

I had to visit Mumbai on an official work; i had booked my tickets for the 8.30Am flight. Even though it would be my first ever visit to BIAL, with all options in the world to reach BIAL by taking taxi, airlift etc... I opted to test on the BMTC Vayu Vajra option from KBS (Kempegouda Bus Station). I reached KBS at 6.20AM, and took 6.30Am bus. (I would appreciate the BMTC and the BIAL authorities for their effort and the

facility provided to the Citizen of the City). Bus departed from KBS @ 6.35Am, with-in no time, no hassles, we started moving to BIAL, with out one single incident of traffic or infrastructure issue what so ever and reached the airport by 7.20am, i was shocked, it was flat 45mins.. What better can any one ask for 36km in just 45mins, and that to at dirt cheap fare of Rs100/-... now all would say it was morning time and not the peak traffic hour that’s why i could reach airport in 45 mins blah blah blah.... hang-on guys, let me explain my return trip too… at least let me say my kudo’s to our own BMTC.


I like to congratulate the courteous BMTC staff, who obliged each and every commuter who showered them with queries about the bus timings, bus stops etc


I took return flight the same day and arrived at BIAL at 7.15PM. with lot many passengers coming in for the first time from different parts of the country, had doubts how to reach their desired location, it was awesome and i was awestruck the way BMTC officials explaining which route to take and how to reach..

All would agree, by any norms and means, traffic at that time would be considered as the peak traffic. I again threw challenge on myself and took BMTC VAYU VAJRA service, i took 7.30pm bus which departed with 10mins delay.. and with that huge traffic all around, we reached KBS at 9pm, it means it took us 1hr 20mins, which i would say not at all bad considering the Peak traffic time.. I would like to mention,

Additional commissioner of Traffic Police, Bangalore, once said, "There is nothing called peak traffic in Bangalore, all through out the day its same pile of traffic"


From no where i felt like some id*&^# are working in the media companies as reporters and writing all nonsense about the BIAL, its connectivity, infrastructure and i really doubt have they anytime done a reality check on this, before commenting or writing on it...


I hope all of us agree it needs mindset and big positive mindset to accept a change, adapt and adopt to it...


My second incident is still more interesting; i had to travel to Hyderabad. With all the confidence and trust i put in BMTC, judiciously without a hint of second thought i took BMTC and reached BIAL with out any hitch. this time during the morning Peak hour traffic at 8.40am... was happy i reached BIAL at 9.30AM..

Much has been said about, like Hyderabad International Airport Ltd (HIAL) is much more Sophisticated, well connected etc etc.. hold on all you guys...no doubt.. the Airport terminal is good, parking lots is outstanding, but the sooner you come out of the airport you will have all problems on earth, to figure out how to reach you desired locations, no boards, no timing charts of the bus service, what type of buses etc.. nothing, you have to literally fish-out of the airport and find your way to trace the bus service.


I took the AeroExpress (much hyped) bus service (AP govt dedicated for the Airport service) i was shocked to see the bus, it is a regular air-suspension bus with AC facility, no where near to comparison of BMTC – BIAL bus service.. Hats off to BIAL-BMTC… kudos guys for the great work and providing the comfort of travel.

And how about the roads, its better if not mentioned, once you are out of airport area, its usual roads with out any dedicated roads, signal free roads, the way Bangalore has.Traffic was all around us, cris-crossing, etc. I was to travel 32KM to reach my destination, it took me 1hr 10mins.. I said good god save me.. and said will not take the bus service again. Bangalore is much ahead and has better facility in every terms.


I really dont know what the fuss all we bangloreans and Media is talking about.. saying bad road to BIAL, no connectivity, far from city, etc..Leave the media people aside, they need something to write to fill their columns and sell...hope everyone agrees-Newspapers have long back stopped giving NEWS.


Dear Bangaloreans wake-up, going ahead life is not going to be easy, the way city is growing we need to accept and accommodate and up-bring the BIAL in all aspects, it is each and every bangalorean untold responsibility...

I would pass my congratulatory note to Mr. Albert Bruner, Director, BIAL for providing such a world class Airport and to the each and every single BMTC employee making the journey a trustworthy with lot of comfort. Keep the good work and the same spirit till the eternity…


Message to all Media guys, the IT-BT companies, and all those Ill-mouthing ( not to be considered them as Banglorean) stop making mountain out of mole…


Kudos BIAL…Kudos BMTC..


Nothing to panic about BIAL.. Guys cheer-up…BIAL is going to Stay and BIAL is going to prove its capacity and capability.

6 comments:

Unknown said...

Hi GSDS,

Thank you for your interest in Bengaluru International Airport. Your comments and feedback are appreciated, and we look to your feedback to continue improving our services. If you have any queries on the airport do feel free to get in touch with us.

Regards,

BIAL Communications team

Santy said...

Dashy,
Rocking I say.
I too experienced sooper smooth travel into and out of BIAL.
Like I always maintained, when BMTC puts their mind to a problem, they always come up with rocking solutions

Prashant Joshi said...

Waiting for my first landing at BIAL...

tMturu said...

Yes Dashy,

You are right. Everything seems to be good and still lot of scope for development and improvement. But correct yourself, it is BENGALURU IAL and not Bangalore as you have written.

But there are certain subtle things which need to be addressed too, thought it is not directly related to any passengers.

BIAL is not allowing any taxis-(marthi omnis which were in HAL) to the inner lane to pick up the passengers. They allow only those new cabs-Logans- which BIAL has given the contract. Both should be given equal opportunity as they are also registered as airport taxis and were running from airport. Those drivers have alrady protested and it is taking pro kannada and anti kannda direction. Any way, let others also get equal chance and passengers to get the competitive rates.

Then, When everwhere else they have used the word 'BENGALURU', why it is still 'Welcome to BANGALORE', at the domestic arrival lounge.
Hope they correct it immediately.

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ashwani rao said...

can i get all the airport volvo buses timings