Aug 10, 2007 11:35 AM
5947 Views
(Updated Aug 10, 2007 01:47 PM)
(The review is basically on both the Hyd and HAL Airports which are similar in topography). The busiest roads in Hyderabad and Bengaluru are Begumpet road and Airport road respectively. The traffic snarls in both the places are such that even flying elephants have to turtle through inch by inch in the peak evening hours.
However the best parts of both these roads are that they house the City Airports which is within five kms radius of City Centres and the hub of residential localities. This distinct advantage is what has made these Cities flourish in many sectors including Information technology for the past decade.
For a frequent traveler like me, it has been very comfortable to fly from Hyderabad to Bengaluru and finish the work on the same day and fly back home considering the fact that it takes just three hours from my home to reach the destination in Bangalore.
However the mediocre facilities and infrastructure at both the airports which have been borrowed places considering the bludgeoning increase in traffic has made them outdated and insecure places to fly from. They are also a tear jerk for the long haul international flights.
The result is that both Airports have become similar to Interstate Bus stands with people stranded everywhere with most flights delayed for take off and landing and the cyclic order of inward to outbound flights burning more fossil fuel than needed.. The gravity of the problem is not just the delays or increased traffic, but the fall in safety standards for which threat perceived will be the one only after its effects in our Country as was seen in Mumbai train blasts.
Come mid 2008, Both the Cities are getting the latest Greenfield airports which will boast off similar facilities as many big airports in the world where construction is in full swing.
This indeed is welcome for the simple reason that Aam admi ( I am waiting for our Aam admi to fly to Hyd sometime) can fly safely and comfortably even in India (Not the Indians who have become Koreans and have flown to Changi airport-Singapore) These new standard airports are located at Shamshabad and Devanahalli. Incidentally both are around 30-35 kms from the City Centre.
The positives of the two new airports are new Airport Village, Medical Centre, Spacious check in area and baggage claim area, large cargo terminals and most importantly much bigger and planned parking spaces.
The present Hyd airport is okay in terms of parking area but the HAL airport is a chaotic miniscule parking area which presents jitters to the visitors. However the amount of time we spend to travel to the new airports compared to the time spent in them is significant. India has always gone through developmental activities in isolation where the bigger picture is invisible.
Let us take the typical example of Shanghai International Aiport and Changi International Airport. The Governments have developed the infrastructure of roads as well as the Maglev link simultaneously to ensure that these airports are reached in no time from the City Centre. China was 25 years behind India 2 decades back and now it is 20 years ahead of India in infrastructure development. (Indian politicians want to stuff their graves and forget that development is the biggest anvil of money making)
Hell on roads, heaven on flying
It will take me not less than 2.30 hours for traveling on Hyderabad roads for reaching the new airport from my residence, notwithstanding the fact that a new Express Highway for 11.2 kms is being constructed in Hyderabad. It will take another 2 hours to reach Manipal Hospital from Devanahalli. In all I am going to spend 7 hours from my Home to the destination. For me to travel from Chennai to Bangalore it may take lesser time if I take Shatabdi Express instead of Morning flight once the new airport is opened. It will also impact my cargo delivery time being an Importer because in Hyderabad, Customs officials work only after Lunch as per Nizam culture and like to burn the night lamp for more riches.
The biggest debate right now in corporate fliers is that both the existing Hyd and Bengaluru Airports have to be retained for low cost Flights. The immediate question that arises is that “Can these Cities afford two airports like London, Chicago or Newyork.?”
What if the new Airports are made as International airports?
How about the transit time and connection between the two?
Will it be viable to have two airports financially when a City like Mumbai is yet to get the Navi Mumbai airport?
Considering the fact that there are many travelers these days with the availability of cheaper flights, the result will be that the Begumpet road and Airport road will ease off little bit when both the airports move. But we also need to move further.
It is only the realtors who make hay around the feather beds of the new airports and for the Aam admi, it will be a nightmare on road to flying dreams.
Cos in India the future is its past.
Thanks for reading.
