HAL airport might still have a chance

Bangalore: The Central government has told in the High court of Karnataka that it will make efforts to retain the HAL airport despite the fact that BIA was scheduled to open to operations on 24 May (Saturday). Additional Solicitor-General Aravind Kumar making this submission on behalf of the Central government has stated that the Central government would continue to talk to the Bangalore International Airport authorities on the issue.
The issue came up during the series of petitions filed by various persons in the High court before the divisional bench chaired by Justice Ram Mohan Reddy and Justice Javed Rahim.
Mr Kumar, said the central government has already held several rounds of talks with the authorities of BIA and AAI but the meetings have not given any result. The meetings featured talks on retention of HAL airport as well as reducing the User Development Fee by the BIA. In one of the petitions the User Development Fees was termed as not just being exorbitant but also draconian.
The Central government, according to Mr.Kumar was keen on allowing smaller aircrafts at HAL airport.
The BIA has made its stand clear that according to the contractual conditions there will be no airports around BIA in the radius of 150 kilometers.
23/05/08 IANS/Mangalorean.com

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Categories: Airports May 2008, New May 2008