Bangalore: The Parliamentary Standing Committee on transport tourism and culture, which has been questioning the closure of the HAL Airport for commercial flight operations since the opening of the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) in 2008, wants the central government to come out with a clear policy on new airports being constructed within 150km radius of the existing one.
The committee headed by Rajya Sabha MP and CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury, in its recent report on demands for grants (2013-14) of Ministry of Civil Aviation, wants a clear policy decision on new airports within 150km radius of the existing one.
The HAL airport had to cease commercial flight operations from May 2008, as the government’s policy does not allow any existing airport to function within 150km of a Greenfield airport (BIA). However, with the government giving in principal approval for setting up a Greenfield airport in Aranmula (Kerala), the committee has questioned the Greenfield airport policy.
17/05/13 Hemanth CS/Daily News & Analysis
