Bengaluru airport to get new ATC tower to handle soaring air traffic

BIAL begins process to build a modern air traffic control tower to handle rising aircraft movements and future airport expansion.

Bengaluru’s Kempegowda International Airport, one of India’s busiest aviation hubs, is preparing for a major upgrade with plans for a new air traffic control (ATC) tower. The move comes as the airport experiences rapid growth and increasing limitations in its existing tower infrastructure.

Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL), which manages KIA, has issued an expression of interest for design and development services for the new facility. According to the tender documents, the upcoming tower is expected to significantly improve operational safety, strengthen emergency response mechanisms, enhance weather-related decision-making, and offer better obstruction monitoring capabilities. It will also provide improved contingency support for air traffic operations.

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The airport spans 4,009 acres and currently operates with two runways, multiple taxiways, aprons, and the necessary CNS (Communication, Navigation and Surveillance) systems. While the present ATC tower was originally designed to accommodate full-capacity parallel runway operations, it is now facing constraints, particularly in integrating modern air traffic management automation systems.

The airport’s expansion plan aims to raise overall handling capacity to 114 million passengers per year. With KIA having already processed 43 million passengers in FY2024 and emerging as a major domestic hub, the need for upgraded air traffic control has become urgent. Aircraft movements have increased from 500 daily arrivals and departures to nearly 800, with projections indicating that the numbers may reach 1,600 in the coming years.

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The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has formally requested BIAL to construct a new tower that can match future traffic demands. The tender also notes that improved communication efficiency is essential for maintaining safe and reliable operations, especially with the addition of two terminals and fully operational parallel runways.

Industry sources highlight that an integrated ATC complex has been a long-pending requirement for Bengaluru’s fast-growing aviation ecosystem. The new tower will play a key role in supporting seamless aircraft movement and maintaining safety standards as the airport expands further.