Biz honchos bat for HAL airport, slam state

Bangalore: Two days after the Union civil aviation ministry issued a notification directing the closure of the HAL airport from May 23 and the subsequent launch of the Bangalore International Airport (BIA) at Devanahalli, the industry players put up a collective fight on Friday under the banner of Bangalore City Connect Foundation (BCCF) - a non-profit organisation that seeks to unite urban stakeholders outside the government - to demand continuation of the old airport.
The BCCF members slammed both the Centre and the state government for failing to renegotiate with the Bangalore International Airport Ltd (BIAL) on keeping the HAL airport open despite a suggestion from the Karnataka High Court.
The BCCF had questioned the Concession Agreement signed between the government (which have 26 per equity) and private promoters (74 per cent) in July 2004, according to which the HAL airport was to be closed once the BIA commences operations.
17/05/08 Business Standard

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

Categories: Airports May 2008