Bangalore International Airport renamed as Kempe Gowda International Airport

Bangalore International Airport renamed as Kempe Gowda International AirportBangalore International Airport has been renamed as Kempe Gowda International Airport, after the garden city's founder Kempe Gowda.

Kempe Gowda was a chieftain under the Vijayanagara Empire during the 16th century. Union Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh, who inaugurated a new terminal at the airport, termed the renaming of the airport after Kempe gowda as an apt tribute to the 16th century chieftain.

Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced that a statue of Kempe gowda would be erected in front of the new terminal T1, which was commissioned on Saturday,

Siddaramaiah admitted that connectivity to the airport remained a concern for them and it needed more efforts boost connectivity projects.

Speaking on the topic, he said, "The connectivity to the Bangalore Airport remains a concern. NH 7 is not enough. The government must take steps to fast track rail and road connectivity projects."

Mr. Ajit Singh said the Congress-led UPA government had decided to operate, manage & develop twenty airports of the AAI under the PPP model to ensure efficient management and effective operations. He added that the process for privatizing airports at Ahmedabad, Chennai, Guwahati, Lucknow and Kolkata, had already been initiated.