The last few days have brought good news for the BIAL consortium, the promoters of the new Bengaluru International Airport (BIA).
Two weeks ago, the new Greenfield airports policy, approved by the Cabinet of Ministers, Government of India, specifically protects the monopoly of both BIA and Hyderabad’s Rajiv Gandhi International Airport (RGIA). No new airport will be allowed to be constructed within a radius of 150km (93.75 miles).
Two days ago, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), has given its technical clearances to BIA to commence operations. The opening date is now in the hands of the politicians, and is scheduled for May 29, 2008. One can only hope that politics does not rear its ugly head and force a further delay in the opening of the new airport.