Nod for airport on Dec 21

The Karnataka government has said that it will give the final clearance to the much-delayed Bangalore international airport project at the Cabinet meeting on December 21. The construction is expected to commence in the second week of January 2005.

Speaking to reporters after his interaction with members of the Siemens-led consortium, chief minister N Dharam Singh said, "We had to discuss certain technical issues. We have asked the officials to go into the details of the issues and apprise me and deputy chief minister Siddaramaiah."

When asked about the delays as well as various media reports that indicated a difference of opinion between coalition partners "" Janata Dal "" Secular and Congress "" over the international airport, the chief minister replied in the negative.

"When you take up a big project, hiccups will be there. But come what may, we will have an international airport," Singh said.

The airport project was originally estimated to cost Rs 1,150 crore in 2001 which is now revised to Rs 1,334 crore.

According to Singh, the development cost had increased from Rs 15 crore to Rs 63.60 crore and the legal fee from Rs 7 crore to Rs 17 crore for the project.

While the Karnataka Cabinet expansion will take place on December 15, the Bangalore International Airport Ltd will also hold its board meeting the same day.