Govt wants to keep HAL airport open

Govt wants to keep HAL airport open
DH News Service, Bangalore:


Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa on Wednesday said that his government is strongly in favour of retaining the HAL airport for short-haul flights. The Chief Secretary broached this topic with the Centre on Tuesday during his visit to Delhi, he added.

The CM said he would like to go by the sentiments of the majority, and thus wants to retain the HAL airport.

When pointed out that the promoters of the new Bengaluru international airport may suffer financial losses if there two airports, the CM said, “We don’t want any investors to face loss. Many cities have two airports, and Bangalore should too.”

The Chief Minister was speaking to media persons on the eve of budget presentation.

City to improve

Asked whether his government would be able to improve Bangalore with all the resource constraints the government faces, Yeddyurappa said, “Give me six months, I will show how the city can be improved. Review meetings have to be held, and public-private participation should be encouraged for improving the city. Investors are ready to put their money on infrastructure. The only thing is that we should not harass them.”

On a query as to whether the government would impose infrastructure cess on Bangaloreans for improving infrastructure facilities in the city, the CM did not offer a reply. “We need to so something,” he said.

When pointed out that his government has taken U-turn on both shifting Rajiv Gandhi Health varsity from Ramanagara, and making Belgaum the second capital of the state, the CM said his government had only mentioned the alleged irregularities in establishing the RGUHS campus in Ramanagara.

Belgaum would be developed as good city and there were no plans to make it as the second captial, he
reiterated.