7 firms interested in airport project

By Our Special Correspondent

BANGALORE, FEB. 11. The State Government is confident that the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli would come up at the earliest following the clearance accorded by the Union Cabinet recently.

The Minister for Large and Medium Industries, Mr. R. V. Deshpande, who took pains to argue the case in favour of the international airport, which had been delayed for five years, said the airport would be of world class standards and would be the gateway to South India. He obviously indicated that the airport would be of a better class than the international airport at Chennai which was now being further upgraded.

He said seven major firms and consortiums had indicated their interest in participating in the international airport project. The agreement with the private promoter would be finalised by the steering committee comprising representatives of the State and the Union governments which would each have a 13 per cent stake. The civil works of the international airport would in all likelihood be started towards the end of the year. Among the seven foreign firms, which have evinced interest in the project were Siemens, ABB, Schiphol Airport of Amsterdam and Zurich Airport of Switzerland apart from the Reliance Group.

The HAL Airport in Bangalore would be closed for domestic flights with the commissioning of the international airport. Only the VVIP and Defence flights would be permitted to operate from the HAL Airport apart from test flying. The State Government was yet to receive in writing the Centre's clearance for the international airport, and it was given to understand that it was in the pipeline.

Mr. Deshpande, who was recently at Davos, said it would be difficult to quantify the investments likely to accrue to the State following the recent trip.

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Section  : Regional
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