Shaky take-off and turbulent journey

Shaky take-off and turbulent journey


Express News Service
First Published : 31 Dec 2008 09:49:00 AM IST
Last Updated : 31 Dec 2008 11:53:10 AM IST

BANGALORE: 2008 was a landmark year for civil aviation in the country in general, as two green field airports were commissioned, and for Karnataka especially, where one of these was opened.

The Bengaluru International Airport (BIA) was thrown open for commercial operations after seeing several ups and downs in the last decade. And it was curtains for the HAL Airport.

The opening of the BIA saw as much tamasha, as was witnessed during its construction, for the opening date of the airport was put off thrice -- due to legal tangles, non-clearance by the Civil Aviation Ministry, and the state elections.

Months after the airport started operations, the BIA is still under the public eye, as the case of the reopening of the HAL Airport is still pending before the High Court. Further questions were raised with the setting up of a House Committee to probe the lapses during BIA’s construction.

The state government, in the budget, had earmarked Rs 100 crore for expediting the work for setting up and upgradation of airports in Mangalore, Mysore, Hubli, Bijapur, Shimoga, Hassan, Gulbarga, Karwar, Bidar and Belgaum.

Besides, to give an impetus to tourism in the state, the government has proposed to spend Rs 40 crore to develop 10 airstrips at the cost of Rs 4 crore each for various districts which do not have airports.