Bangalore in need of second airport

Over a 100 days after Bangalore's new international airport became functional, the cry for a second airport refuses to die down. This time, the Karnataka government too feels that the city needs a second airport.
It may look bigger and better but for Bangalore residents the swanky new International Airport in Devanahalli just isn’t enough. Three months after its grand opening, the state government too feels the same way. And says it will look at reviving the old HAL airport.
BS Yeddyurappa, Chief Minister, Karnataka, said, “Our legislators, industrialists, and experts want one more airport. We are in touch with the Centre. We want to retain Hindustan Airport."
The Airports Authority of India's report on the Bengaluru International Airport, or BIAL, says the new airport falls short of capacity. That's one reason the state government wanted to use the old airport for this year's Haj pilgrimage, where more than 5,000 passengers will be traveling next month. In fact, HAL authorities had agreed to it, but the officials of BIAL struck it down.
The campaign to keep HAL airport has been on for more than six months now. With some of the city's top names involved, petitioners had approached the court. As a legal battle wages on in the Karnataka High Court, the government is now trying a parallel path.
13/09/08 Deepa Balakrishnan/CNBC-TV18

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Categories: Airports Sep 2008