BIAL to begin operations on Mar 30

Bangalore, Mar 11 (UNI) Refuting media reports that the launch of commercial operations at the greenfield Bengaluru International Airport is likely to be postponed, BIAL today clarified there was no change in the programme and the operations would begin on March 30 as scheduled.

BIAL CEO Albert Brunner said the company had demonstrated airport readiness with the successful flight trials conducted on March seven.

''During the trials, BIAL had committed to deliver the new international airport to the city on March 30, while the inauguration is scheduled for March 28.

''We have not received any information from Civil Aviation ministry validating newspaper reports,'' he said in a release.

Reports in a section of the media had stated that the launch could be postponed in the wake of safety concerns raised due to incomplete Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility.

The Rs 2,270-crore BIAL, spread over 4,000 acre, is being commissioned under Build, Own and Operate scheme. Promoters Siemens Project ventures, Unique Zurich Airports, L and T and others would hold a 74 per cent stake, while the balance is held by Karnataka and Union Governments.

The airport would have the capacity to handle 11 million passengers in its first year of operation.

The airport had been designed to handle a future passenger capacity of up to 50 million per annum.

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