Bangalore Intl Airport will be ready by April 2008

Bangalore, May 8: The much awaited Bangalore International Airport will be ready by April 2008 as almost all the civil works of the country's first green-field Airport have been completed well in advance, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said today.

Speaking to newsmen after holding a review meeting of various departments here, he said that the trial-run of the International Airport would be held in January 2008 and would become operational from April 2008.

Stating that civil works have been completed nine weeks ahead, Mr Yediyurappa said that the Express Corridor work connecting the city with the Airport was also expected to be synchronised with the completion of the International Airport.

Mr Yediyurappa said that the Defence Ministry has accorded permission to utilise the Bidar Defence Airport for civilian purpose also. The state government has also decided to provide 100 acres of additional land to Indian Airforce base at Bidar for the purpose, he added.

He said that many international operators have shown interest in building airports at Hassan, Gulbarga, Bijapur and Shimoga for which land has been identified and acquisition was completed. To give a boost to the tourism Rs Two crore has been released to build all season helipads at 20 places including Hampi, Badami, Belur, Chickmagalur, Madikeri, Kollur and Dharmastala and Jog. Helipads would also be constructed in and around Bangalore city including at Electronic City and Peenya Industrial estate, he added.

Mr Yediyurappa said that for the first time a special grant of Rs 1751 crore has been earmarked for development of most backward areas in the state to remove regional imbalance as recommended by the Nanjundappa Committee on Regional imbalance. A Cabinet sub-committee would look after implementation of the works.

UNI