Patel summons stakeholders meet on 29 April to sort out B’lore international airport issues

New Delhi: All stakeholders of the newly developed, Rs2,500-crore Bangalore international airport are likely to meet on 29 April, at a meeting convened by civil aviation minister, Praful Patel, to arrive at an understanding that will take into account the wishes of the Karnataka High Court. Based on a public interest litigation filed before it, the court had remarked that contentious issues bedeviling the airport, such as the closure of the old HAL airport and User Development Fees to be levied on air passengers be resolved amicably and immediately.

It is likely that the opening of the international airport, located at Devanahalli, may be delayed even further if matters remains unresolved at this meeting. The high court directive concerns stakeholders that include the Central government's ministry of civil aviation, the government of Karnataka, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL).

''Based on the court directive we will go through the motions on April 29 and see if anything can be done,'' said Ashok Chawla, secretary, civil aviation ministry.

If concerned parties are willing to look at compromise solutions then the concessions agreement signed by them earlier will likely be re-negotiated.

The country's aviation regulator, the director general of civil aviation (DGCA), is due to issue a license to the airport at the beginning of next month.