New transit system soon to help Bengaluru airport passengers switch terminals faster | Bengaluru News

Bengaluru: Switching terminals at Kempegowda International Airport (KIA) will soon become easier with the introduction of an automated people mover (APM). Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL), the airport operator, has invited bids until Wednesday for design consultancy services for the project.APMs are driverless, rail-based transit systems designed for short-distance, high-frequency travel. Commonly deployed at airports, theme parks or large campuses, they use technologies like monorail or rubber tyres for efficient movement of passengers between terminals. Many airports in US, China, Malaysia and Singapore have implemented this driverless transit system. Initial plans for installing APMs at KIA were first announced in Dec 2023. Once operational, it will become the first airport in the country to have automated inter-terminal transit system. At present, electric shuttle buses are used for transfers between the two terminals.In a parallel move, BIAL subsidiary, Bangalore Airport Hotel Limited (BAHL), has issued a request for proposal (RFP) seeking consultants to conduct a feasibility study for an ultra-luxury hotel on the airport premises. When asked about the timeline, BIAL declined to comment on projects at the tendering stage.