North runway upgraded, Bengaluru airport now operates two parallel runways

The upgraded north runway at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru commenced operations on Thursday after the sector regulator the director general of civil aviation gave its approval.

Closed for operations in June last year, the North Runway's upgrade included strengthening of the surface with fresh layers of asphalt and the addition of two new taxiways to enable efficient runway operations.

The CAT 1 runway has new installations such as LED runway centreline lighting, Inset runway edge lights and taxiway centreline lighting and two new mid-point transmissometers. The new installations will, however, be commissioned later this year, the airport owner, the Bangalore International Airport (BIAL) said in a press release.


With the CAT IIIB-equipped South Runway becoming operational on December 6, 2019, these enhancements would offer the international airport the flexibility to operate both runways in low visibility and adverse weather conditions. The enhanced equipment will enable aircraft to take-off from the North Runway with a Runway Visual Range (RVR) of 125 metres and land at 550 metres RVR, the press release said.