The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : Commercial operation at new airport from May 11

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Friday, Mar 14, 2008
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

Commercial operation at new airport from May 11

Special Correspondent

Civil Aviation Ministry blames BIAL for the delay

ATC towers were supposed to be handed over to AAI six months ago
New airport yet to get DGCA licence for commercial operations

BANGALORE: Bangalore International Airport Ltd. (BIAL) has now decided to commence operation of flights at the new airport in Devanahalli on May 11 instead of the original schedule of March 30.

BIAL’s decision follows a communication earlier in the day from the Union Civil Aviation Ministry directing it to open the new airport any day after May 10.

Sources in the Ministry told The Hindu that the delay in setting up Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility had been cited as the main reason by the Ministry to defer the opening of the new airport.

The ministry felt that there was a need for more time for ATC to operate as the traffic controllers had to be given training after setting up the ATC. “Delays in the construction of ATC facilities, including the Control Tower, Technical Block, office accommodation of AAI personnel and issues like house-keeping and air-conditioning at the ATC facilities were the reasons for this delay (related to commencement of operations),” the Ministry communication said.

Meanwhile, BIAL said the delay was beyond its control. “We are clearly disappointed with this delay especially as our employees and all our partners have been working tirelessly to launch Bangalore International Airport on schedule on March 30, 2008,” the BIAL said.

However, the sources said the Ministry had indicated that the BIAL was responsible for the delay in setting up ATC. Ministry sources said BIAL was supposed to hand over the ATC tower to Airports Authority of India six months ago.

But the tower was handed over to the AAI only two months ago, Ministry sources said.

The new airport had to get licence from the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to commence flight operations.

But the DGCA had made 59 observations regarding various issues related to the commencement of operations.

Following this, a team of officials from the Civil Aviation Ministry recently visited the new airport and reviewed the progress of work.

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