In order to meet its deadline, the Karnataka government approached the Supreme Court (SC) to acquire three acres of land belonging to a private company for the construction of an approach road, claiming that without it the international airport will not be ready for the inaugural on March 30.
In an affidavit the State government said that the construction of the inter-change road, by the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI), between the Bangalore International Airport Limited (BIAL) and the City would not be possible without taking possession of the land owned by Bangalore-based Girias Investment Private Limited (GIPL).
“If the approach road is not completed, Bangalore would be out of airways after March 2008. The present airport belonging to Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) will be closed for commercial planes on March 30,” the affidavit claimed.
GIPL challenged the acquisition of its 3.5 acres land for the construction of the road, which had deviated from its original plan.
Free movement
On the last date of hearing in December last year, Senior Advocate Abhishek Singvi appearing for Girias Investment Private Limited submitted that the diversion of the trumpet interchange (elevated loop to ensure free movement of traffic without affecting the existing road) at the junction of the national highway on the land of the company was deliberate.
