Snag hits intl airport again

Snag hits intl airport again
Deccan Herald

Even as civil works at the proposed Devanahalli airport site are yet to take off properly, fresh problems seem to have surfaced for the much-delayed venture.

Even as civil works at the proposed Devanahalli airport site are yet to take off properly, fresh problems seem to have surfaced for the much-delayed venture.

Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel wants the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) to club both phases I and II of airport construction because of the bulging traffic projection. The minister is also unhappy over the architectural design of the airport.

With Bangalore showing a huge upsurge in air passengers, the minister says the projections for 2010 has already been achieved and the projection for the second phase for 2015 would be achieved by the time the airport was thrown open in 2008.

“We can’t sleep over these issues,” Mr Patel told Deccan Herald after addressing reporters informally here. “I have asked the BIAL authorities to discuss this issue and prepare a report. They will be here next week. I want them to club both Phases I and II.”

Bangalore already attracts at its HAL airport about 4.5 million passengers each year while the projection for 2010 is five million. Mr Patel is also unhappy over the architectural plan for the Rs 1,200-odd-crore airport. “The airport design doesn’t look futuristic or modern. It looks like a standard terminal, albeit on a larger scale. I want them to do something on more space also. The airport should look modern.”

‘Final plans soon’

Asked about the minister’s remarks, BIAL authorities admitted they were aware of the issue. Speaking to this newspaper, BIAL CEO Albert Brunner said: “We conducted a survey recently on the traffic projection and we informed the Civil Aviation Ministry about the outcome.

“We are in the process of adopting this in our plans and discussing how we can cope with the huge traffic projection. We would finalise our plans shortly and go before the BIAL board with it for approval. After that we will move the ministry.” Asked about the cost, Mr Brunner said he hoped BIAL may not have to invest extra money. “The plans may include extra runway, aprons, etc, but I hope we could keep the cost at our earlier projection level. Otherwise, it will involve a whole lot of legal and technical issues. We have already finalised and signed the concession agreement and the engineering, procurement and construction agreement.”

Mr Brunner sounded upset over the minister’s remarks on architecture but said BIAL would abide by the latter’s directions. “It is true we were told about the architecture. But for us, it is second priority.

“The first priority is to build a good operational airport. We decided on the design considering the local flavour, using locally available materials. We wanted it to reflect local aesthetics. However, since the minister has made the statement, we will look into it.”

Murthy resignation

Asked whether the resignation of Infosys chief mentor Narayana Murthy had affected the airport work, Mr Patel said it had made no impact.

“There is no bearing (on the project) as he is not a stakeholder,” the civil aviation minister said adding it was up to Mr Murthy and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda to iron out their differences.