IAF clears BIA’s second runway

IAF clears BIA’s second runway


CM Yeddyurappa greeting Air Chief Marshal F H Major in Bangalore on Tuesday/Nagaraja Gadekal.
Express News Service
First Published : 12 Nov 2008 04:12:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 12 Nov 2008 08:28:38 AM IST

BANGALORE: Chief of Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal F H Major said on Tuesday that the Indian Air Force has cleared the proposal for the construction of a second runway at the Bengaluru International Airport (BIA).

Major, who called on Chief Minister B S Yeddyurappa, told reporters that the IAF has given clearance to BIAL, the promoters of the airport for construction of second runway.

As part of its expansion plans, BIAL had earlier sought permission from the Ministry of Civil Aviation, Ministry of Defence and the State Government for the construction of the second runway on the south side of the airport.

However, the IAF had opposed the construction of the second runway south of the airport as it was said to be too close to Air Force Station, Yelahanka, which is just a few nautical miles from the proposed runway.

The IAF had instead asked BIAL to construct the proposed second runway to the north or the eastern side of the present one.

“The runway will come up on the south side of the airport as proposed earlier,” Major said.

The Chief of Air Staff is also said to have had discussions with the Chief Minister on the proposed Unmanned Air Vehicle (UAV) training centre in Chitradugra for which the state government has already allotted land.