Dream airport: HAL doesn’t wake up

Bangalore International Airport Ltd, a joint venture between a consortium comprising Siemens, L&T and Zurich Airports Authority as well as Airports Authority of India and Karnataka State Investment and Industrial Corporation, had applied for a no-objection certificate to the Defence Ministry on December 2, 2002.

In fact, Karnataka Civil Aviation Minister H M Revenna today met Defence Minister George Fernandes and sought his intervention in issuing the no-objection certificate at the earliest. Fernandes, who plans to visit Bangalore tomorrow, is said to have assured all help. The Defence Research Development Organisation, which has nearly 1400 acres there, agreed last month to shift its missile tracking facility and radar to an alternate site provided by Karnataka Government.

Indian Air Force, which has the Yelahanka airbase some 30 miles from the proposed site, too gave its clearance after a series of meetings. But HAL is still to give its nod. Rather, it has come up with a fresh condition. The problem has cropped up in airspace management with HAL demanding rights to control air traffic. This, however, is not acceptable to the Civil Aviation Ministry as air traffic services are provided by Airports Authority of India (AAI) at civilian airports.

HAL representatives have been raising this demand on grounds of sensitivity involved in their projects. But at the last technical meeting at the Directorate General of Civil Aviation on January 6, it was made clear that BIAL will have its own AAI-operated ATC.

HAL will have a separate ATC for its own activities as would Indian Air Force for its Yelahanka airbase.

While HAL continues to insist on its demand, sources say, much of its concerns have been addressed. In the airspace management plan prepared at the meeting, HAL has been given the entire area south of the proposed airport barring a narrow corridor for approaching civilian aircraft.

Despite this, HAL officials have stuck to their demand. Further, they have sought access to radars that will be installed for BIAL. It’s learnt that HAL currently gains nearly Rs 100 crore from parking, landing and navigation fees.

HAL Chairman-cum-Managing Director N R Mohanty refused to divulge details saying these issues will be resolved through mutual discussions between agencies concerned. ‘‘I can assure you that we will not get in the way of the new airport. If there are any issues, they will be resolved through mutual discussions,’’ he told The Indian Express from Bangalore.

The tussle has, on the other hand, proved frustrating for BIAL. Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna has also knocked the doors of the PMO which has intervened on several occasions to expedite pending issues. Infosys head N R Narayana Murthy too has thrown his weight behind the project. Despite this, the clearance is still to come.