GMR gets high rise jolt

GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) has received a setback with the Union civil aviation ministry making it clear that the power of issuing no objection certificates for high-rise buildings in the vicinity of the new airport at Shamshabad would rest with the Airports Authority of India.

GHIAL and AAI were at loggerheads on who should issue NOCs and to clear the ambiguity, the municipal administration and urban development department sought a clarification from the ministry, sources said.

In a recent communication to the state, the ministry said all the applications for NOCs should be routed through the AAI officials concerned. Accordingly, the government instructed the Hyderabad Airport Development Authority (Hada) and the director of town and country planning.

Meanwhile, the NOC affair took a new turn with the Airport Authority of India not accepting applications from the builders. Several builders rushed to Maud complaining against the standoff between GHIAL and AAI, forcing the principal secretary, Mr S.P. Singh, to convene a meeting on Tuesday to resolve the issue. Official sources told this correspondent that the meeting, however, could not take place as the AAI representatives did not attend.

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Sightseers threaten Airport security

The new international airport at Shamshabad has become a picnic spot for local people, raising many security concerns.

Thousands of people throng the airport every day to enjoy its ambience and to see flights coming in and going out. On Sunday, there was unprecedented rush of "sightseers" and some of them even came with packed lunch and other picnic paraphernalia. During peak hours, people were sitting in groups at the airport entrance having their snacks or lunch.

A majority of the visitors are local people who sacrificed their land for the construction of the airport. They feel that they have every right to enjoy themselves.

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GMR hopes for Ugadi start

The new Hyderabad international airport, beset by unexpected delays, is likely to start functioning in 20 days. Regular flights from the airport at Shamshabad are expected to begin from Ugadi, on April 7.

A GMR Hyderabad International Airport Limited (GHIAL) official, while declining to make any formal announcement, said: "We hope Ugadi, the Telugu New Year's Day, will usher in a new beginning for us.

" A statement on the airport's official website says: "We understand that some airlines have approached the ministry of civil aviation seeking more time to begin operations from HIA. Acceding to their requests, (the ministry) has advised us to begin operations in a few days. We will intimate the new date and will commence operations soon."

Highly placed official sources said the civil aviation ministry is under pressure from low-cost airlines to have two airports in the city. Air travellers and Airports Authority of India (AAI) staff have also been pushing for operations to continue at the Begumpet airport. Low cost airlines have apparently joined hands to apply pressure

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