SC refuses to stay road to airport

SC refuses to stay road to airport
TNN & AGENCIES

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to stay the construction of an access road to the Bangalore International airport that will get commissioned in March 2008.
The proposed road, scheduled to be inaugurated by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on March 30, is likely to be the only link between the city and the airport, which is around 40 km from the city.
A Bench headed by Justice P P Naolekar deferred till next week the hearing on a petition filed by Girias Investment challenging acquisition of its 3.5 acres of land for the approach road.
Girias counsel Abhishek Singvi said the diversion of the trumpet interchange (elevated loop to ensure free movement of traffic without affecting the existing road) at the national highway junction on the company’s land was deliberate.
Seeking a stay of the Karnataka High Court judgment that dismissed its petition on the ground that the land was acquired in public interest, the company said the road was proposed to be built at a different alignment during the planning stage.
The Karnataka government had submitted wrong facts that the planners were forced to divert the trumpet interchange as the original road had ponds and wells, it said.
The petitioner also said it had purchased land in November 2005, and the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board acquired it without giving it a hearing.
Opposing the plea, the state government said the construction of trumpet interchange road by the National Highways Authority of India would be impossible without this land.
The state said the acquisition of land is vital for construction of the trumpet interchange at the junction of the national highway and it would facilitate smooth and easy movement of heavy traffic to and from the airport to Bangalore, it added.