BAPL Created the Real Aerotropolis in India

In today’s constantly evolving economic context, airport management teams balance many imperatives to sustain a viable business model –operationally, financially and environmentally. With the demand for air travel once again on the rise, airports are re-assessing airport development plans and looking at business options that will help them spread the risk and diversify revenue streams. At the same time, they are streamlining processes and service offers in order to attract and retain customers in an increasingly competitive travel market. 

The original ‘airport cities’ concept focuses on business options that help rejuvenate the airport’s attractiveness while strengthening its financial position. The concept integrates business, leisure, living, work, transport and entertainment in one central location. Full integration of an airport with its local community is at the heart of the concept a place where travelers find many services they need close at hand, but also a closer integration with the business and tourism structure of the locality. As such, the airport positions itself as a driver of economic growth and development and effectively underpins long-term economic and social benefits for the communities it serves. A number of trends have changed our business outlook in recent years and have encouraged the success of the multi-purpose airport concept.

Airline customers have changed. Airports no longer fit the old public utility mould with emphasis on serving a national carrier as a simple point of transit for their customers. On the contrary, shifting airline fortunes and the arrival of the low-cost carriers has radically changed the airport supplier-airline customer relationship. It has also changed the carrier relationship with the passenger, who increasingly looks to the airport for satisfaction with the overall travel experience. As a result, airports must cater directly to the passenger who, in turn, increasingly contributes to airport revenues through passenger fees and the non-aeronautical revenues derived from a broad range of services available to them. 

The year 2015 was the year, when India got its very own, first ever Aerotropolis. It was developed in the state of West Bengal at an industrial town named Durgapur. Bengal Aerotropolis projects limited (BAPL) was the company who brought this Aerotropolis concept for the first time in India. The Managing Director Mr. Partha Ghosh of BAPL led the project to success. It was Mr. Partha Ghosh who could also visualize the formation of its residential township that was further named as Sujalaam skycity. 

The total project has all the amenities that an Aerotropolis, is supposed to have. Apart from the residential township and an airport, it has entertainment centres, educational institutions, Schools, colleges, universities, shopping malls, IT parks, engineering colleges, and super-specialty hospitals etc. 

Author’s bio: Mr. Partha Ghosh comments - The Company BAPL is formed to get engaged in developing Aerotropolis projects in India and its first project had already seen a grand success. Mr. Partha Ghosh also visualizes the successful running and implementations of the other associated projects under this Aerotropolis, mainly the Sujalaam Skycity.