Pleas against closure of HAL airport rejected

Pleas against closure of HAL airport rejected
TIMES NEWS NETWORK



The Karnataka High Court on Friday rejected interlocutory applications seeking stay of the notification announcing the closure of HAL airport for commercial and civil flights from midnight of May 23.
After a seven-hour-long hearing, the vacation division Bench headed by Justice Rammohan Reddy took the state and central governments to task for their lack of preparedness vis-a-vis connectivity to the new airport.
“Both the Centre and the state are aware the
new
would largely affect public interest. We find it hard to believe that the Government of Karnataka had not envisaged or drawn out a master plan even though an agreement was signed in 2004. Providing an international airport with latest technology is by itself not sufficient... it calls upon the Union and the state governments to be sensitive to the needs of the public by providing high-speed access through rail and road network. But they have not shown responsibility.
“We would like to record our displeasure with regard to the action of the state and central governments, the major stakeholders in the project, in not having due regard to the interests of the public. It appears to us that there is no material whatsoever over the infrastructure as well as connectivity to BIA either before signing the contract or after it. They have not taken effective steps to provide facilities. Even now only tall promises are made. They ought to have shown more responsibility and accountability. It looks that their whole approach is callous. We hope the state and Union government will fulfill the promises made to this court for providing signal-free uninterrupted access to the new airport at the shortest possible time by using the latest technology,’’ the Bench has observed in its order.
The court also recorded the submission of central government counsel that HAL airport can be reopened if the parties agree to it after the renegotiation process is over. The Centre sought 12 weeks time for that.
Earlier, infrastructure secretary V P Baligar and BBMP commissioner Subramanya told the court that roads leading to BIA have been widened and traffic bottlenecks up to Hebbal flyover are being eased out by way of magic boxes as well under and surface passes. He also told court that the elevated expressway was planned by the National Highway Authority of India from Hebbal to Allalsandra.
Udaya Holla, senior counsel for BIAL, told the court that the company was prepared to continue deliberations with the government as per April 16 order of the court.
Vivek Kulkarni, head of association of outsourcing professionals and former IT secretary, withdrew his plea before the court. However, his complaint before the MRTP commission (New Delhi) challenging the concessional agreement with BIAL will come up for hearing on May 26.