Second airport not possible under BAIL agreement: Office

Bangalore, June 12 (UNI) Karnataka Chief Secretary P B Mahishi today ruled out the possibility of retaining the operation of HAL airport which is presently used for domestic and international air services, after opening of Bangalore International Airport coming up at Devanahalli near the city.

Participating at an interaction meeting with entrepreneurs, organised by Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce here today he said according to the agreement reached with BAIL no new airport could be built or operated within 150 km radius of the new airport.

He brushed aside the demands made by leaders of the industry to retain the domestic service in the HAL airport saying that, ''I personally favour that there should be more than one airport in Bangalore. Unless the agreement period is over no other airports can be operated.'' He announced that the BAIL would start operations from April next year, while trial runs would begin by the end of this year. State government was making all efforts to have dedicated road and rail lines to the airport from all directions of the city.

He said public private participation had come to stay as government could not fund all infrastructure projects anymore. This was the time that the industry took advantage of it, he said.

Mr Mahishi said the government accepted Vidyanathan Committee report on cooperative movement in the state.

UNI