Another spanner in BIAL works

Another hurdle for intl airport
Vijay Times

Bangalore: Just when it appears that the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli has surmounted all hurdles, another one is cropping up.

This time around it is the State Government's plans to reclaim a few hundred acres from Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) that could give some hiccups. The Government is also planning to go in for fresh acquisition of land to compensate for the reclaimed area.
Government sources told Vijay Times that around 400 to 500 acres in the northern part of the allotted land may be reclaimed. This land was meant to construct a direct approach road from the National Highway.

To compensate that, the Government has decided to initiate fresh acquisition of around 500 to 600 acres of land in the southern part of the allotted land. These are in and around Mallinahalli and Hennur Road which fall between the proposed international Airport and National Highway.

Lease agreement: It is unclear why the Government wants to go for new acquisitions for the approach road by reclaiming the land already earmarked for it. It may be noted that the Government has already singed the land lease agreement with BIAL and handed over 4,050 acres to it. If the Government goes ahead with its plans, not only will the airport be deprived of direct access from the National Highway, even the runway alignment may have to be altered.

Flight path: As per the present Outside Development Plan (ODP) of the airport prepared by the Bangalore International Airport Area Planning Authority (BIAAPA), the authority to control the development of this area, the flight path (during the landing and take off) would cover agricultural lands.

If the runway re-orientation was done, then the flight path may fall on residential areas, against the Indian Aircraft Act 1939. As per section 9 of the act, there is a definite flight path to be followed (15 degree from the take off point) and development of the area has to be regulated keeping in mind safety and noise pollution.

Sources maintained that some of the farmers of the southern side on the acquired land have already served notice to the Government requesting clarification whether it wants to acquire any more land for the project.