New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to inaugurate on Friday Terminal 2 of the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru, built at a cost of around Rs 5,000 crore.
The terminal will double the passenger handling capacity of the airport to 5-6 crore passengers per annum, from the current capacity of about 2.5 crore.
Terminal 2 is designed as a tribute to the Garden city of Bengaluru and the passenger experience is meant to be a ‘walk in the garden’.
Passengers will travel through 10,000 plus square meters of green walls, hanging gardens and outdoor gardens.
The Airport has already established a benchmark in sustainability with 100 per cent usage of renewable energy across the campus. Terminal 2 has been created with sustainability principles woven into the design, the PMO said.
Based on the sustainability initiatives, Terminal 2 will be the largest terminal in the world to be pre certified platinum rating by US GBC (green building council) prior to commencing operations.
The theme of ‘Naurasa’ unites all the commissioned artworks for Terminal 2. The artworks reflect the heritage and culture of Karnataka as well as the broader Indian ethos.
Overall, the design and architecture of Terminal 2 have been influenced by four guiding principles: Terminal in a garden, sustainability, technology and art and culture, the PMO said.
All these facets showcase T2 as a terminal that is modern yet rooted in nature and offers a memorable destination experience to all travellers.
The Prime Minister will also flag off Chennai-Mysuru Vande Bharat Express from Kranthiveera Sangolli Rayanna (KSR) Railway Station in the state capital. This will be the fifth Vande Bharat Express train in the country and first such train in South India.
It will enhance connectivity between the industrial hub of Chennai and the Tech and Startup hub of Bengaluru and the famous tourist city of Mysuru.
Modi will also flag off the Bharat Gaurav Kashi Yatra train from the same Bengaluru KSR Railway Station.
Karnataka is the first state to take up this train under the Bharat Gaurav scheme in which Government of Karnataka and Ministry of Railways are working together to send pilgrims from Karnataka to Kashi.
The pilgrims will be provided comfortable stay and guidance for visiting Kashi, Ayodhya and Prayagraj.
The Prime Minister will also unveil 108 metre long bronze statue of Sri Nadaprabhu Kempegowda. It is being built to commemorate the contribution of Nadaprabhu Kempegowda, the founder of the city, towards the growth of Bengaluru.
Conceptualized and sculpted by Ram V Sutar of Statue of Unity fame, 98 tonnes of bronze and 120 tonnes of steel have gone into making this statue, the PMO informed.
Modi, in a tweet, said that he is honoured to be getting the opportunity to unveil the statue.
He will also attend the 36th Convocation Ceremony of Gandhigram Rural Institute at Dindigul in Tamil Nadu at 3.30 pm.
The Prime Minister is visiting Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Friday and Saturday.
