Centre's nod for laying alternative highway for airport expansion

Mysore, Feb 5 (UNI) The Centre has approved to lay an alternate highway to the Mysore-Nanjangud one, which ran alongside the Mandakalli airport, to facilitate its expansion, Union Surface Transport Ministry Secretary Brahma Dutt said today.

Talking to newspersons at the airport here, Mr Dutt, after reviewing the progress of the airport upgradation work, said the state government should see that the farmers were adequately compensated for the land acquired for the project and seek the Centre to make the payment.

As there were many important shrines in the region, the Ministry would extend all support for the speedy completion of the project, he told the officials.

He also sought details from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials on the schedule of work being taken up in the first phase and hurdles faced in ensuring timely completion of the project.

Meanwhile, AAI Deputy General Manager M N Rao said work was progressing at a rapid pace and the first stage would be completed by the year-end and the runways were expected to be completed by April.

Another round of discussions on the alternate highway was held with Mysore Deputy Commissioner P Manivannan.

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