Bengaluru airport’s new runway is fog-proof, but not the old one

Fog-related visibility issues had disrupted hundreds of flights at the Kempegowda International Airport, playing havoc with the plans of thousands of passengers for years. The new runway with its Cat-III B Instrument Landing System (ILS) will address this problem this winter, but not the first runway.

Now closed for rehabilitation, the first runway (North Runway) will not get an ILS upgrade. But the runway will have its entire top layer resurfaced and strengthened and center lights installed. The ILS will continue to be Category-I.

“Upgrading the ILS is a very expensive process. We will have to increase the user fees for that. The user consultation panel has said there is no requirement for Cat-III now,” BIAL Chief Executive Officer (CEO) told DH.