BENGALURU: In a sign that even the HAL chairman recognizes the need for a second airport in the city, Mr. Suvarna Raju said negotiations will be held with BIAL to facilitate reopening of HAL for some operations in the next few months.
Speaking to the media on the second day of Aero Show 2017 on Wednesday, Chairman of HAL, M. Raju said "Government of Karnataka has entered into a contract with the BIAL. According to this contract, there is no permission to open or operate a airport within 150 km radius of BIAL." But with Bengaluru International Airport passenger traffic increasing year after year - said to have crossed the target number of passengers which it should have completed by 2020 - negotiations are on to reopen the existing HAL airport in the city for some flight operations.
In 2016, BIAL passenger traffic witnessed 22.5 per cent growth by touching 22.18 million passengers, with 60,000 passengers travelling through the airport everyday.
A PIL that was filed to reopen HAL and the High Court stated that it cannot interfere in the matter as there was a contract between HAL and BIAL.
HAL registers 7 per cent growth: Suvarna Raju
For 2015-16, the HAL registered Rs 16,736 crore revenues and for 2016-17, the target was Rs 17,100 cr, of which Rs 10,086 crore has been registered till January-end, HAL Chairman Suvarna Raju said.
Kaveri Engine upgradation
“In association with the Gas Turbine Research Establishment (GTRE), we are exploring the option to revive indigenous Kaveri fighter engine and some progress can be expected after March,” HAL Chairman Suvarna Raju said.
Sukhoi-30 Mk1
Of the orders received for manufacture of 222 Sukhoi-33 Mk1 aircraft, 183 are ready and the rest are expected by 2019-20.
Scaling up LCA production
Mentioning that out of the 40 Tejas Light Combat Aircraft (LCAs), three have been handed over to the Indian Air Force, HAL Chairman Suvarna Raju said that the production capability of LCA will be scaled up from the existing eight per year to 16-20 per year.
