Controversies dog the new international airport near this tech hub ahead of the take-off of its first flight next Friday (May 23).
On Friday, the Bangalore City Connect (BCC), a platform of the city’s citizens, criticised the Civil Aviation Ministry for its decision to shut down the existing Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL) airport on the day commercial operations commence at the new airport.
“It is vital to retain the HAL airport to prevent an inevitable crisis when BIAL (Bangalore International Airport Ltd) starts operations. The government must renegotiate the concessional agreement (with BIAL) to keep this airport (HAL) open,” Kiran Mazumdar Shaw of Biocon, told a news conference on Friday.
On Saturday, members of BCC will support a silent protest by entrepreneur RK Misra outside the HAL airport. Meanwhile, BIAL, said the new airport would become operational on May 23 following approval from the Ministry of Civil Aviation.