Karnataka - Bangalore   

Plea to retain HAL Airport

Bangalore: The demand for retaining commercial operations at the HAL Airport even after the opening of new airport at Devanahalli has surfaced again.

Many of those who attended a seminar on “Should the HAL airport be closed?” organised by the Centre for Public Policy of the Indian Institute of Management-Bangalore favoured operation of flights at HAL airport.

The former Chief Secretary A. Ravindra, who chaired the seminar, said that the possibility of operating both the airports could be examined as nowadays air travel was not restricted to only the rich.

While Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) Chief Executive Officer Albert Brunner said that it was not financially viable to operate both the airports, Deputy General Manager of HAL (Airport Operations) S.R. Iyer said that the existing airport should not be closed even after opening of the new airport developed by the BIAL.

Mr. Brunner relied upon the agreement signed with the government for closing the HAL Airport after opening of the new airport.

However, Mr. Iyer pointed out that the city needed two airport as it had witnessed a steep increase in air passenger traffic as against the projection made when Devanahalli airport was planned.

Devesh Agarwal, member of the Bangalore Chamber of Industries and Commerce, favoured retaining of HAL Airport stating that closure of the existing airport would have adverse impact on city’s economy.

However, V.P Baligar, Principal Secretary, Infrastructure, Industry and Commerce, said that the State Government has to honour its agreement with the BIAL with respect closing of the HAL Airport.

Mr. Baligar was of the view that non-honouring of the agreement might send wrong signals to future private investors in the State. According to Mr. Baligar, the city would need a second airport only after about 20 years.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Mysore in all its splendour
Centre yet to clear 21 projects
Court defers decision on English-medium schools
Petition against animal sacrifice
A brand new wave for women
Book on Gujarat elections released
Children’s education fund launched
Right MIX makes them excel
Team work to the fore at annual day
Underpass construction hits traffic
A costly decoration
Traffic restrictions lifted
Plea to retain HAL Airport
Police clueless about killer vehicle
Living life on an equal footing
Software company’s office ransacked
Kidnapped boy rescued; two held
Excise raid in Halavadi
Not too hot, say students
Infosys, NIAS institute nation’s biggest mathematics award
Renewal
When dreams come true
Breach of contract: KSDL for arbitration with Dhoni
Conmen strike at three places Crime Notes
Kumble pledges his eyes
Public hearing
Self-drive cars to be introduced at new international airport
Bangalore today

Copyright © 2008, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu