Hi Devesh, looks like your ISP as well as mine does not seem to find the host globeground.in just hooked to a box in Mumbai and later to verify the same, to a box in the US.  The host is pinging and am able to get response on port 80.
So i would not be the one to indicate some problems at GG :)
-- Praveen Sundaram AkA PhotoYogi

PS sorry for the tech-talk had marked my response as OT

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I am more than a little shocked by this move. Sutlej does not work. High floor buses are out of the question.

For airport airside transfer operations, there are buses specifically designed. They typically have hydrostatic transmissions (for high loads, low speeds, and smooth shifting), 4 wheel steering (for the very tight maneuvering), very large capacity (100+ passengers), "kneeling" capability (typically about 2 feet), and also wheel chair ramps built-in. Regular city buses, even the low floor Volvo buses that BMTC operates, are just not suited for these types of operations.

FMC/FSM (http://www.fsm-vienna.at/tld/bus/bus.htm) are one of the largest makers of airside handling equipment. Including the push tractors, loaders, transporters, and airside transfer buses. Neoplan, now part of MAN group is probably the biggest specialist airside transfer bus vendor.

http://www.neoplan.de/datapool/imagepool/700/Flughafenbus_Einstieg_02_g1988.jpg

http://www.neoplan.de/datapool/imagepool/100/Flughafenbus_Einstieg_01_g.jpg

http://www.neoplan.de/en/Products/Airport_buses/Picture_gallery.jsp

For fire-fighting BIAL imported special fire tenders and made a big show of it for the Praja members. Considering that BIAL has 42 bays but only 8 contact gates, it is obvious they would need airside transfer buses. BIAL management is well experienced in this. Why have they not imported special airside transfer buses ?

We need to remember that we are not comparing BIAL to any domestic airport. We were promised a "world class" airport to international standards, and that is what we should demand.

Apart from the 10,000 Cr. given as concessions, we are expected to pay a UDF. What are we getting in return, as consumers ?

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Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

 

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This comment has been moved here.

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I agree that we need busses similar to those at CDG or LHR. But what worries me more is that these busses which are part of BMTCs fleet are being used for this small service, while the other busses are running full on the road. If these busses which are on the tarmac are used to increase the frequency to the airport, it will make connectivity better. At HAL airport, Air India, Jet and KF used to use low floor busses with driver doors and steering wheels on both sides. On one of these I saw Sutlej written, hence I understand they have probably built the body on an existing bus. These busses are also used in Mumbai and Delhi. Someone at RGIA told me that the imported busses cost somwhere close to 2 Crores while the indian made busses cost 23-40 laks. Hence the choice of Indian busses! We must question Globe Ground/Air India SATS. Also GG mentioned that they will be running Electric Busses at the airport. I would like to see more of them.

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Pls see this

 My gut feeling is Air India SATS isn't using low floors and volvos, and GG is the more expensive/premium GH at BIAL

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It's not our place to question GG and AI-SATS. They have been appointed by BIAL. We should question BIAL. They are responsible to us for service.

Other than UDF, please remember, you as a passenger, are also paying Rs. 70 on every ticket to BIAL as their share of the PSF.

Demand your due ... as a consumer. 

-----------------------

Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

 

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  Is this indicative of some problems at GG ? :)

-----------------------

Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

 

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Devesh or anybody else,

Are there any statistics as to what is the percentage of flights using buses to transport passengers vs using the aerobridge in Bangalore? A consistent feature I have noticed in Indian airports is to keep the passenger terminal small for the expected passenger capacity and utilize a large fleet of buses to transport passengers between the terminal and aircraft. This design has extended to the new airports in Hyderabad and Bangalore as well. This obviously is a cost saving measure both for the airport developer (less built up termnal area, lesser investments in aerobridges  & lesser operating costs in terms of utilities etc. due to the smaller terminal) 

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