Retention of airport sought

Retention of airport sought
DH News Service, Bangalore:


A city advocate has moved the High Court, seeking a direction to the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) to retain the HAL Airport for take-off and landing of short-haul domestic flights.

Petitioner G R Mohan said that BIAL has announced that from March 30, 2008, the HAL Airport will not be used for take-off or landing of either domestic or international flights.
Such action is ultra vires the powers of the Union Ministry or BIAL, he said, contending that the same will result in inconvenience to domestic air passengers.

Passengers will have to travel upto 40 km to reach the new Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli, for taking short-haul flights to Chennai and Hyderabad. Hence, HAL Airport which is in the city, should be retained for short-haul domestic flights, he said.

He also sought a stay against proposed collection of user development fee of Rs 675 on domestic passengers and Rs 955 on international passengers.

Justice Anand Byra Reddy, before whom the petition came up for preliminary hearing on Monday, directed the Court Registry to re-classify the petition as a public interest litigation, and post it before the appropriate Division Bench.