Aero India: Road to show still a mirage

Aero India: Road to show still a mirage
New Indian Express

BANGALORE: The countdown for Aero India-2005 has started. Air Force Station Yelahanka is gearing up to host the country’s biggest biennial event starting February 9. But an unhindered and less-taxing drive to the venue still continues to be a mirage.

The widening of the 25-km Bellary Road, from Hebbal to Devanhalli in the city is progressing at a very slow pace and is not expected to be completed before the event starts.

This means that aviation enthusiasts and participants of various countries will have to pass through this treacherous stretch before they get to watch those magnificent flying machines in action.

‘‘Since we are yet to acquire some private land at Byatarayanpura, the work will be completed only in December 2005,’’ said Engineer S.S. Kumar, who works for a private firm executing the project for the National Highways Authority of India.

All along the busy Bellary Road from Hebbal to Yelahanka, work is under progress leading to frequent traffic congestions. Only a few stretches are wide enough to allow heavy flow of traffic.

Kumar said NHAI gave the contract to the firm in September 2001 and the firm completed the work each time it was handed over land. ‘‘Around 15 km of the 25-km road has been completed at different stretches,’’ he said.

There is some good news though. The 2.4-km Yelahanka by-pass road will be ready by January 30, about a week before the air show starts. This will help avoid congestion at the Yelahanka town market. This road branches off the highway just before Yelahanka police station and rejoins it at the petrol pump outside the town. The Railways have constructed a rail overbridge across this by-pass.

With over 50,000 people expected to visit the air show each day of the five-day event, they will have a tough time negotiating the chaotic road. This year’s air show will be bigger and better as more firms and nations are taking part.

The US F-16s are expected to be a special attraction, and there will also be some advanced flying machines from Russia, France and India including the IAF and HAL.