B'lore: Sriramulu hints at closing HAL airport
Bangalore, June 14: Tourism Minister Sriramulu and Principal Secretary for Infrastructure Development V P Baligar dropped sufficient hints that HAL Airport would be closed once the International Airport at Devanahalli became operational.
Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, they said as per the agreement the HAL Airport would have to be closed once the International Airport in Devanahalli is ready. "We know there is a demand for operating both airports; but we cannot breach the agreement," they asserted.
When
his
attention
was
drawn
to
the
statement
by
Union
Civil
Aviation
Minister
Praful
Patel
that
Bangalore
needs
two
airports,
Mr
Baligar
said
he
had
only
seen
the
newspaper
reports.
"We
have
not
yet
received
any
communique
from
the
Centre,"
he
added.
Mr
Baligar
declined
to
entertain
more
queries
on
the
need
to
have
two
airports
at
Bangalore
saying
this
would
affect
the
ongoing
work
on
the
Devanahalli
airport.
Stating that work on the Devanahalli airport was progressing at a brisk pace, Mr Sriramulu reiterated that the airport would be inaugurated on April 2, 2008.
Referring to the comments made by the Union Civil Aviation Minister regarding the design of the main terminal at the Devanahalli airport, Mr Sriramulu said already some changes have been made. "Similarly minor changes have also been effected in the flooring of the airport," he added.
A Board meeting scheduled be held here on June 22 would discuss further changes to be made to the main terminal, Mr Baligar added.
OneIndia News
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