This is the first time the trumpet-like design is used in India. This interchange will be built by NHAI as part of the six-laning of the Bangalore-Hyderabad NH 7 (Bellary road). The cost is estimated at Rs 25 crore. The interchange will fly over the rail crossing just before the airport and deliver vehicles directly in front of the terminal. The project is expected to be completed in 18 months from start.

Plans for a separate access road to the airport from the Outer Ring Road, for which the state signed an MoU with Malaysian company Ara Corp in 1996-97 have been put on back-burner. The main reason for the halting of the project is because the toll proposed by the company was very high. To overcome this the government is considering to upgarde the major district road that runs from Hebbal via Hoskote to the airport site.

The express rail link to the airport is moving swiftly. IDecK has been selected for this project, while the South-Western railway has completed a preliminary feasibility study to determine if the link should oriniate from Cantonment, Byappanahalli or Bangalore East stations. The plan looks very ambitious as passengers hopping onto the train can directly board the planes at the airport.

The airport stakeholders have decided to acquire 20 acres of land to construct this trumpet junction.

DESIGNER WAY THE ROUTE Trumpet interchange is so called as the sesign of the ramps and the concentric loops resembles the spiralling downward and curving design of the musical instrument. It was first designed in 1920s, along with coverleaf, in Europe. Now, it is found very commonly in europe, UK and Us; In some places, it has also been asapted for four-way traffic. US has gone for "fused" trumpets, where two to four trumpet interchange are looped to-getherinto one massive interchange. The trumpet has not been built in India so far, through there is a plan for a trumpet exchange on NH 79, at Krishangarh-Nazirabad in Ajmer distric of Rajasthan. Bangalore to Hyderabad traffic to continue without hindrance along six-lane highway Hyderabad to Bangalore-bound traffic also to continue without hindrance Commuters from Bangalore to international airport take left ramp, go into outer loop of trumpet and continue down ramp straight to terminal. Commuters from Hyderabad side of highway take the surface road into the airport. Commuters coming out of international airport heading towards Bangalore city take the surface road towards the city. Commuters heading towards Hyderabad side take the ramp from the airport to the inner loop of the trumpet and exit out on the national highway.

September 2004