Convention centre to come up near international airport

Convention centre to come up near international airport

Special Correspondent

Cost of the project is Rs. 1,050 crore

It would be executed on

BOT basis

BANGALORE: An international convention centre will come up on 35 acres adjoining Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) at Devanahalli at a cost of Rs. 1,050 crore.

Minister for Infrastructure Development and Tourism G. Janardhan Reddy, who returned from a tour of the U.S. and U.K., told presspersons here on Thursday that tenders for building the centre had been awarded to Soma Builders. They would execute the project on Build-Operate-Transfer (BOT) basis in the next three years. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa would lay the foundation stone for the project.

The centre would have a five-star hotel, economy class hotel, exhibition hall and retail space which would meet the requirements of global companies and foreign tourists travelling to Bangalore.

Out of the 400 acres in the possession of the Infrastructure Department around the airport, 35 acres would be given to the convention centre. The Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board had agreed to supply water to the centre, Mr. Reddy pointed out.

On the progress of work on Metro Rail and high speed rail link project, he said steps would be taken to complete the work in the next three years.

Several NRIs in the U.S. and U.K. had shown interest in investing in hotel, amusement parks and other infrastructure projects in the State, he said.

The Government had decided to construct 13 airports and 10 airstrips in the districts, and officials had been told to expedite the land acquisition and other processes.

Facilities would be provided at the airport for the landing of 200-seater aircraft and at the airstrips for the landing of 50-seater aircraft, the Minister said.

Deficiencies in the BIAL airport would be set right soon. BIAL authorities met him recently and promised to take corrective steps. Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa’s complaint of poor quality work and lack of amenities at the airport would be looked into, Mr. Reddy said.