Misra files PIL against closure of HAL airport

Misra files PIL against closure of HAL airport
TIMES NEWS NETWORK


Bangalore: R K Misra, entrepreneur and Lead India winner, has filed a public interest litigation in the high court challenging the decision to close down HAL airport. Misra’s plea states that the decision has been taken without taking into consideration facts relating to connectivity. There has been no study on costs to the public or the traffic situation and environment of Bangalore, the plea observes.
The PIL states that the decision to grant BIAL a monopoly is arbitrary. This, the PIL states, is a violation of the fundamental rights of residents, particularly the right to a pollution-free environment and the right to free movement.
Misra’s PIL says the Centre has “completely failed to take into consideration the fact that the Devanahalli airport lacks the infrastructure to support its own projected growth’’. The closure of the HAL airport, Misra has argued, “would be an irreversible decision and irreparable prejudice and hardship would be caused to the citizens of Bangalore’’.
NGO writes to Praful, guv
Transparency International India (TII) has demanded that the HAL airport be used until better facilities for access to the Bengaluru International Airport, like a super-fast train, are developed.
In separate letters to Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel and governor Rameshwar Thakur, TII state chapter chairman, former Justice M F Saldanha, suggested that monorails be constructed to connect the city, HAL airport and the international airport. “We should ensure the new airport is well connected to the city centre,’’ Justice Saldanha said.
High court to hear petitions today
Bangalore: The high court will on Thursday hear petitions challenging the closure of HAL airport once the newly built Bengaluru International Airport commences operations. The division Bench will hear the petitions.
Advocate G R Mohan, in his petition, contended that decision of Bangalore International Airport Limited not to allow flights from HAL airport from 8 pm on March 29, and the handing over of the old airport to defence authorities, will cause hardship and monetary loss to people who travel on short-haul flights.
Bangalore City Connect Foundation and senior citizen B Krishna Bhat have filed similar PILs.