Are the Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL) and the civil aviation ministry cutting it a bit too fine vis-a-vis the opening of the Devanahalli airport?

Several of the key works at the airport will be completing — according to the assurances given by the BIAL and Airports Authority of India (AAI) — only towards the last few days to the opening of the airport on March 30.
The ministry sources here say they are keeping their fingers crossed although they would like to see the project take off as per deadline — the Prime Minister is scheduled to inaugurate it on March 28.

A final decision to allow the airport to open as per schedule or not would be taken on March 7 when Civil Aviation Secretary Ashok Chawla makes the final inspection.

A ministry team of senior officials conducted an on the spot inspection of the airport site on Friday but  did not seem to be too happy over the progress. The inspection team, which was joined by Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao, was told that the crucial air traffic control would be ready by March 20.

Another pending work — the second circuit for runway lighting — as per an assurance by BIAL, would be ready by March 25. The “trumpet interchange” — the approach to the airport from the highway would be ready by March 27. “Construction is still going on inside and outside the airport. We have told all the parties involved in the work that all out efforts should be made so that we meet the deadline,” ministry sources told Deccan Herald here.
The ministry officials are also concerned over the work spilling over till the fag end of the deadline especially because the prime minister would be inaugurating the airport.

Security issue

“Normally, the security party arrives at the site of the PM’s function 15 days in advance and takes over the area a few days before the event. With construction and other activities  continuing till the very last day, we are a little worried how things will work out,” the sources added.

Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) officials, confirming the ministry team’s visit, stated that the team was impressed by the updates at the airport site.

The BIAL officials termed the visit as a mandatory one since the airport was undergoing trials at the site.