Date:31/10/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/10/31/stories/2007103160330300.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

‘Is it wrong to be on time?’

Staff Reporter

BIAL CEO says everyone knew the new airport will be operational by March 2008

BANGALORE: Bangalore International Airport Limited’s Chief Executive Officer Albert Brunner feels he did his job only too well. Commenting on the delay in providing easy access to the airport, he said: “Construction of the airport began in July 2005. All these years you knew that the airport work is going on. Suddenly you blame us as we are on time (in completing the work and beginning the operation). It is you who wanted to have the new international airport. I do not want to blame anybody (for the mess),” he said, speaking at a roundtable on Connectivity to the New International Airport organised by the Bangalore Chamber of Industry and Commerce here on Tuesday.

On BIAL taking over the trumpet interchange work from NHAI, Mr. Brunner said: “The National Highway Authority of India had selected a contractor who had never even built a bridge. We have taken the work, which was planned by NHAI three months back. Now it says that it wants to widen NH 7 and the project not up to the standard.” On the proposed high-speed rail link to the airport, Mr. Brunner said the BIAL Board has agreed to participate in the project with equity and the percentage of the equity was yet to be decided. Reacting to demands by various quarters to retain the present HAL Airport as a domestic airport or continue its operation till BIAL becomes fully operational, he said the proposal was not feasible.