New Delhi: Airport operations across the country are likely to be disrupted from 12 March, with employees of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) threatening to go on an indefinite ‘non-cooperation movement’ after the government on Monday rejected their demand to continue with the operations of the existing Bangalore and Hyderabad airports. These airports in both the metros are to be closed down after the inauguration of the new greenfield airports there.
“We have decided to resume our agitation as the ministry is bent on closing down the airports at Hyderabad and Bangalore. As part of this, we will go on a non-cooperation movement at all airports across the country from the midnight of 11-12 March,” Airport Authority Employees’ Joint Forum convenor M. K. Ghoshal said after the forum held talks with civil aviation ministry officials.
Meanwhile, the opening of the new international airport in Bangalore, originally slated for March end, may be delayed by two to four weeks, a senior civil aviation ministry official, who did not wish to be quoted, said.
A senior civil aviation ministry delegation had visited the airport last week to decide whether the airport could be made operational by the month-end.
Officials from the Karnataka government are likely to meet the civil aviation ministry on Wednesday to arrive at a conclusion.
In a related development, the Karnataka high court has posted for 25 March the hearing on the public interest litigations seeking a stay on the closure of the Bangalore airport.
On Monday, the court admitted four petitions, filed separately by an NGO and three city residents last month. The petitioners want the existing airport, owned by Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, to be continued on grounds that roads connecting the new airport to the city are not yet ready and that people would be put to inconvenience.
‘Staff writers contributed to this story.’
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