Work begins on Bengaluru Airport’s ₹1,300 cr Elevated West Taxiway to cut flight delays

Bengaluru

The construction of much-awaited Western Cross-Field Taxiway (WCT) at Kempegowda International Airport, Bengaluru (BLR) has begun, marking a major milestone in the airport’s long-term expansion and operational upgrade plan.

Designed as a 1.4-km elevated twin taxiway, the WCT will connect the airport’s North and South runways, allowing aircraft to taxi across the airfield without disrupting terminal or landside activities.

The ₹1,300-crore project is expected to be completed by December 2026, with construction work commencing recently following a successful tender process by Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL).

Once operational, the taxiway will cut aircraft taxiing times by up to 50%, reduce delays during peak hours, and significantly lower fuel burn and emissions. It is being built to accommodate wide-body Code F aircraft, including the Airbus A380 and Boeing 747-8.

“This project will eliminate one of the biggest choke points at BLR by enabling quicker aircraft turnaround and more efficient dual-runway operations,” said a senior BIAL official had told the reporters in the past.

The elevated structure will cross over key infrastructure including the Terminal Boulevard, the under-construction Metro corridor, cargo roads, and airport access routes.

This makes it one of the most technically complex airside projects in the country, requiring advanced structural design and coordination with ongoing cityside development.

The WCT is expected to improve runway throughput significantly. Currently, poor weather and limited taxiing options can reduce capacity to around 22 air traffic movements (ATMs) per hour.

With the new system in place, capacity could reach up to 60 ATMs per hour, especially under low-visibility conditions, thanks to upgrades like CAT-III ILS and Low Visibility Take-Off (LVTO) procedures.

The project is part of BIAL’s larger vision to transform the airport into a multi-modal hub. It will seamlessly integrate with Terminal 2, the upcoming metro line, and other cityside infrastructure, offering passengers and airlines an experience on par with global aviation hubs.

With Bengaluru’s air traffic growing steadily, crossing 40 million passengers annually, the WCT comes at a critical time to future-proof the airport’s airside operations.

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