House committee to probe BIAL lapses

House committee to probe BIAL lapses
DH News Service, Bangalore:
The State government has decided to set up a House Committee to look into the alleged violation of terms and conditions by the Bangalore International Airport Limited ( BIAL) during the construction of the Bengaluru International Airport.

Members in the Legislative Assembly, cutting across party affiliations, on Thursday alleged that the construction work of the new airport was “substandard”.

Minister for Infrastructure and Tourism Janardhana Reddy announced the setting up of the committee, bowing to the demand of the members.

D K Shivakumar of the Congress, who raised the issue, said the new airport was worse than a bus stand. “There is no seating arrangement, public toilets and VIP lounge. It is in total disarray.”

Though the government had allotted around 4,000 acres of valuable land, given tax exemptions to the tune of several hundred crores and free water and power supply, the quality of work is substandard. The Bangalore airport is nothing compared to the Hyderabad airport, he said.

“BIAL has purposely not put out enough chairs for visitors so that they would all go to the cafe. Thousands of air travellers are facing utmost inconvenience every day. It is high time the government intervenes and rectifies the lapses,” he said.

The government should cancel the agreement for further expansion, or renegotiate it. If not, this airport will stand as the biggest tragedy of the IT capital, he said.

Opposition leader Mallikharjuna Kharge said BIAL was becoming a sort of NICE company. BIAL is indulging in real estate business and has violated all conditions in the agreement signed with both the State and the Central governments, he said.

To the surprise of the Opposition members, Janardhana Reddy said he completely agreed with their views and seconded their demand for rectifying the lapses.

The House Committee will comprise members from both the ruling and Opposition parties.