The Hindu : Airport: Krishna to meet PM on April 25

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Apr 11, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Karnataka-Bangalore

Airport: Krishna to meet PM on April 25

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE April 10. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, will meet the Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, in Delhi on April 25 to seek clearance for the proposed international airport at Devanahalli.

He was addressing presspersons on Thursday after laying the foundation stones for flyovers at the Airport Road-Intermediate Ring Road (IRR) junction, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology Circle, and the Bannerghatta Road-Dairy Circle.

Mr. Krishna said he would discuss the project at his meeting with the Prime Minister, which had been convened to finalise the annual plan for the State.

He said the project could be implemented only after the Airports Authority of India Act was amended and "concession agreements" were given. "The PM is equally interested in the project. I will remind him about the amendment and seek clearance,'' he added.

`Metro rail essential'

On the metro rail system, he said the Government had realised that the project was essential for the Bangalore. A detailed project report (DPR) was ready, and the Government was studying it, he added.

``We are communicating with the Union Urban Development Ministry, and they have promised the same facilities that have been given for the Delhi Metro system. Bangalore has positioned itself prominently on the national canvas. Besides, software exports from Karnataka contribute revenue to the Centre, and Bangalore needs special consideration,'' Mr. Krishna said.

Commending the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) for mobilising its own resources, he said the flyovers and other infrastructure projects that the BDA was executing were "value-added services" for citizens.

He congratulated the BDA for recovering property that were encroached upon by land grabbers.

He pointed out that the BDA recovered a property worth over Rs. 7.41 crore in BTM Layout recently.

Earlier, Mr. Krishna laid foundation stones for flyovers at the Airport-Road-IRR junction, Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology Circle, Bannerghatta Road-Dairy Circle. He inspected the development of Agara lake and the BDA complex in HSR Layout.

These projects will be implemented at a total cost of Rs. 120 crore.

Flyovers in 15 months

Mr. Krishna said the three flyovers were scheduled for completion in 15 months.

The Chief Minister promised the local residents that an alternative site would be allotted for the Om Shakti Temple that was likely to be demolished for the construction of the flyover at Dairy Circle.

The BDA Chairman, Rin Sangha, the BDA Commissioner, Jayakar Jerome, the Food and Civil Supplies Minister, Ramalinga Reddy, the Social Welfare Minister, A. Krishnappa, the Mayor, C.M. Nagaraj, and the KSRTC Managing Director, K. Jairaj, were present.

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