Uncertainties plague BIAL airport

Bangalore:The commercial test flights went on smoothly in Bangalore’s new international airport on Friday, but new uncertainties have put a question mark on its scheduled launch on March 30.
According to a newspaper report, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has sought a month’s time to put its ATC (Air Traffic Control) facility in place.
The Civil Aviation ministry is to deliberate on the AAI’s request early next week. Hectic efforts are under way to address the ATC issue quickly and get the airport launched on March 30.
A PIL seeking retention of the HAL airport is to come up for next hearing in the Karnataka High Court on March 10. In its earlier hearing, the High Court had asked all parties concerned to file their objections before the next hearing. The outcome of the PIL will have a bearing on the commissioning of the new airport.
Meanwhile, public pressure is mounting on the authorities for retention of the HAL airport as an interim solution to the connectivity issue.
Justice M F Saldanha, former Judge of Karnataka High Court and chairman, Transparency International, India chapter, has urged the Civil Aviation Ministry to put on hold the inauguration of the new airport until a decision is taken on the connectivity issue.
In an SOS to Minister Praful Patel, he pointed out that the infrastructure to the airport is not ready and will make people waste a long time in transit.
HAL airport should be retained for domestic flights. It could be connected to the new BIAL airport through monorail-he stated.
08/03/08 MSN India

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Mar 2008, New Mar 2008