PM to CM: Clear airport

Karnataka is still to clear new airport, so PM calls CM: Decide
Indian Express

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh NEW DELHI, DECEMBER 1: With Karnataka taking its own time in giving necessary clearances for the proposed greenfield airport at Bangalore, the Centre has asked the state to expedite matters.

Both Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel have spoken to Karnataka Chief Minister Dharam Singh on the issue.

‘‘I have spoken to him (Karnataka CM) and so has the Prime Minister. He has assured us that things will be sorted out soon. They are moving on it and we hope that the project will take off,’’ Patel said today.

The Centre signed the concession agreement with the Bangalore International Airport Ltd in July and since then the matter has been pending with the state. The Dharam Singh government, after assuming office, decided to take a second look at clearances given by the S M Krishna government.

The previous state government had cleared the land lease agreement as well as the Rs 350 crore state support to the project which is estimated to cost close to Rs 1350 crore.

The private consortium, taken aback by the Dharam Singh government’s decision, is finding it difficult because the engineering contract with L&T and Siemens expired in September.

Infosys mentor N R Narayana Murthy too had written to the Prime Minister to intervene in the matter. Following this, the Civil Aviation Ministry made a presentation to the PMO on the status of the airport. Singh had also asked Patel to take up the issue with the state government.

Plagued by several delays, the Bangalore airport seemed to be finally on track when the Centre finished with its clearances. But the state government’s inisistence to review the decision of the Krishna government has only complicated matters.

Only after this clearance can BIAL initiate the process for financial closure which itself would take at least three to four weeks.

Once this is over, the consortium can begin construction of the airport.