International airport stays jinxed

While the international airlines come pouring in, the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli, which seemed like it had finally crossed all the hurdles ranging from the closure of defence airfields to the fee payable to the government, back in January, has hit an air pocket again. The BIAL has returned the draft concession agreement sent by the Central Government because of its ambiguous wording regarding closure of civil services from the existing HAL airport. As this is necessary for the financial viability of the new airport the BIAL has refused to go ahead without a firm commitment to end all civil services from the HAL airport. With elections underway at both the state and the centre, expect no progress on this till the latter half of the year atleast.