Karnataka says no to change in access plan for airport

Technical experts for Bangalore International Airport Ltd, the National Highways Authority of India and the Karnataka...

Technical experts for Bangalore International Airport Ltd, the National Highways Authority of India and the Karnataka Government have rejected a private company’s proposal to alter the plan for a major highway interchange, meant to provide key access to the international airport. The airport is set to open next April.

The company, Girias Investment Private Ltd, in an effort to save a parcel of land owned by it, through a writ appeal in the Karnataka High Court, presented a plan to alter a ‘Trumpet Interchange’ proposed by the BIAL, the NHAI and the state Government.

In an interim order, the High Court had asked the airport project implementers and the NHAI to consider the Girias proposal. Following meetings held on September 7 and 10, and after considering a report filed by BIAL, the Government has now placed a report before the HC stating that modification of a loop in the interchange which falls in the Giria property would not be feasible as it would technically affect the entire interchange project.

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The international airport is located at Devanahalli, 32 km from Bangalore. The interchange loop is intended to provide access between the airport and National Highway 7.

Rejecting the Girias proposal, the Government has told court that the “trumpet interchange” is a crucial part of the airport project and vital to its overall efficiency.

Girias, an electronic goods retailer, had earlier filed a writ petition before a single judge of the High Court questioning acquisition of a three-acre land bought by it three months ago. The company had alleged that the alignment of the interchange had been modified to protect the land of some influential people. The company had sought alternative land near the new airport as compensation —- a plea the state Government had rejected. In August, a single judge rejected the Girias petition, stating that the Government had acquired the land in public interest.

While the state has taken measures to create alternative access roads to offset the delays in the trumpet interchange project, these roads are considered only a temporary solution for routing the intense airport traffic projected to hit NH 7 next year.

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“The trumpet interchange is the most immediate solution available to ensure smooth flow of traffic from the highway to the airport and vice versa. The dedicated expressway from Bangalore to the airport and a rail link are further away,” an official of the state Infrastructure Department stated.

The state has begun the process of acquiring land for the dedicated expressway to the new airport, but this is expected to take at least two years. The Government is also awaiting a project report from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation for a rail link to the airport.