Defence ministry blocks Bengaluru airport expansion

8220;The Ministry of Defence and Indian Air Force are now insisting that the second runway be on the northern side of the first runway even though no-objection certificate for BIAL site was given by the Ministry of Defence on March 3, 2004,8221; says a paper prepared for the Prime Minister8217;s Office, which is directly administering the President-ruled state.

The IAF8217;s argument is that a new airstrip on south of the existing one would interfere with the traffic of its military training flights from Yalahanka airbase, 17 km away. The MoD fears that the alignment would intrude into the testing and development of aircraft by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd whose airport currently serves civilian flights.

Moreover, the MoD claims that the Sub-Group on Air Space Management had decided in March 2004 that BIAL should 8220;preferably explore the possibility of the second runway to the north of the first runway8221;.

However, BIAL and the Karnataka Government say that it was not possible to go north as more land would need to be acquired, and also at least three villages would have to be shifted. In addition, there were two 8216;irrigation tanks8217; that would fall in the path of the northern strip. They want permission to construct the runway 8220;as per the existing master plan8221;.

The deadlock has now been placed with the PMO, as BIAL plans to decide on the expansion project this year. Initially, the second runway was not anticipated until 2013, but with traffic expected to grow 30-35 per cent by 2010, the completion date is being advanced to 2011.

Public trials at the new airport will begin in March with an inauguration by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on March 28 and commercial flights from March 30.

The airport is proposed to cater to 10 million passengers in the first year.