New airport OK this month

The much-delayed Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli is expected to be cleared by the Karnataka cabinet in the second half of this month, said chief minister Dharam Singh.

"We expect to clear the project in the second half of this month so that work on the prestigious project could start by the end of January 2005," Singh said. He also added that the long-awaited expansion of the Congress-Janata Dal (S) coalition government in Karnataka will take place by next week.

"Before December 15, we are going to expand," Singh tsaid the exercise would take place.

The chief minister met JD(S) supremo H D Deve Gowda on Wednesday in Bangalore and assured him the exercise will be completed by next week.

The Congress-Janata Dal (Secular) coalition government in the state at present has 10 ministers, five each from both parties apart from chief minister of Congress and deputy chief minister Siddharamaiah of JD-S.

Commenting on a series of reports that investors were not enthused by the functioning of the Congress-JD(S) government, Singh said though there may be "some hiccups" in running a coalition, his administration was "doing considerable work but quietly".

"In a coaliton, some hiccups will be there.," the chief minister told reporters.