Opening of Bangalore International Airport deferred

Bangalore, Mar 13 (UNI) Putting an end to speculations over the launch of commercial operations of greenfield Bengaluru International Airport, the Union Government has asked the promoters to consider a suitable date after May 10 for inauguration of new airport at Devanahalli, 40 km from here.

According to a PIB release here, the Ministry of Civil Aviation expressed its inability to accept the earlier scheduled date of March 30 for opening the airport.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was slated to inaugurate the airport on March 28 and the commercial operations was to have begun two day's later.

"Given the status of the availability of ATC services, the Ministry has directed BIAL to consider a suitable date after May 10," the release said.

Delay in the construction of ATC facilities including the Control Tower, Technical Block, office accommodation of AAI personnel and issues like electricity supply, house-keeping, airconditioning at the ATC facilities were the reasons for the postponement, the release said.

UNI MSP RS GM1749