House panel on BIA likely to table report today

The 21 member committee chairman and BJP MLA Dr Hemachandra Sagar has in his report expressed apprehensions on the BIAL not conforming to standards expected from an international airport, according to sources.

The committee is reported to have recommended construction of a new terminal and a second runway at BIA, which the promotors of the airport had already announced.

“The committee has observed in its findings that facilities at BIA do not meet international standards. It has inadequate facilities, a small terminal, faulty air-conditioning, dirty toilets, lack of an affordable cafeteria and not enough security check-in counters” said a member of the committee on condition on anonymity.

The committee has already met Praful Patel, the Union Minister of Civil Aviation and briefed him about its observations.

The Committee has leaders from across the political spectrum including H D Revanna, D K Shivakumar, N Yogish Bhat, Qamar-ul Islam, Nadagouda, Manohar Maski and Abdul Azim.

However, with the stakeholders of the BIAL set to change, following the Hyderabad-based power and infrastructure business major, GVK group acquiring 29 per cent stake in BIAL’s equity, the recommendations of the committee will not have a considerable impact on the functioning of BIAL, say aviation experts.