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BIAL Mess - Is cat out of the bag?

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Written By kbsyed61 - 25 September, 2008

BIAL Bangalore Media Reports AAI KSIIDC

There is an interesting news in Deccan Chronicle about the BIAL mess. According to this report, the reluctance on part of the private partners to infuse additional Rs. 200 crores, led to the inadequate facilities at BIA.

Courtesy - Deccan Chronicle

http://www.deccan.com/Bengaluru/City/CityNews.asp?#Stakeholders%E2%80%99%20refusal%20led%20to%20mess

Interestingly, the public representative seems to have gave in to the whims of private partners. Their silence doesn't end there. They continued to be silent till date. Their silence is understandable due to our political high handedness. Example is recent  180 degree turn in BBMP's hoarding policies.

Is the cat out of the bag? May be not. Many more such revelations are needed to know the whole truth. It is still too early to comment on the ramifications on this revelation if it were to be true. But still it relevant to ask some pertinent questions:

  1. Why are these GOK/GOI officials are tight lipped?
  2. Is because, in our governing system, the ultimate authority lies in Corridors of Political bosses and their offices?
  3. How does we empower these helpless (if they indeed are) souls to stand for the public good?
  4. How does the public partners get emboldened to force the private partners do the right thing?
  5. How do we ensure that private partners in public infrastructure are held accountable for their follies?

 

 

COMMENTS

Jab apna hi sikka khota hai !

kbsyed61 - 26 September, 2008 - 13:32

Jab Apna hi sikka khota hey to Ghair ko kay denge ilzaam.... (when our own has betrayed us, what do we have say about outsiders) This is an old saying and fits properly to this context.I would say, lets not empty all the rotten eggs on Mr. Brunner's face. we should save some rotten eggs for GOK/GOI,also. I don't understand our whining about our numbers on Board. GOK has to give all the permits to run the BIAL, DGCA holds the key for issuing the license for running the airport, we still want to hide behind excuses like minority numbers on Board? Asking Mr. Brunner to tell the truth would be like asking the Hrashad Mehta/Ketan Parikh/GT Bank to tell the world that the cheated on us. It takes courage and sincerity to tell the truth. Corporate world scales zero on that front. If anybody has to break the silence, it is GOK and AAI officials who attended those board meetings and those who were entrusted with supervising the projects on behalf of the public.

BIAL includes GoI and GoK

Devesh - 26 September, 2008 - 13:43

Syed, I have taken the liberty of including your questions in my article. As far as I am concerned, GoI and GoK are equally responsible and equally answerable.

I refer to BIAL and to me BIAL = Siemens + Unique + L&T + KSIIDC (GoK) + AAI (GoI).

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Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

Ghost at BIAL :)

karihaida - 27 September, 2008 - 02:10

Slightly off topic http://bangalorebuzz.blogspot.com/2008/09/now-ghost-spooks-bia.html This might come in handy for pro HAL lobby :)

Syed, whoever it is, it has

Devesh - 27 September, 2008 - 13:17

Syed, whoever it is, it has to be senior since they have quoted from the board of directors meetings.



The issue here is not of the actions of BIAL, but rather the lack of pro-activism on their part, albietly on the behest of their promoters.



For the last year, I have been hearing from a variety of people from all aspects connected to BIAL, about various shortcomings that had to be forced down BIAL's throat. Something as simple as the canopies in the front and on the walk ways, canteens and restrooms for the non BIAL airport employees. Even today, airlines do not have their own office building. They are still using temporary facilities in what was to be BIAL's office.



I was told that BIAL wanted to start the airport without the ATC certified i.e. HAL ATC controlling the airspace.



This does not bode well for the long term. We should not have to waste our time and efforts monitoring BIAL and constantly pushing.



If we wanted an indifferent organisation that would react rather than pro-act, we could have taken any government organisation, like AAI. We do not need a BIAL for that.



I don't like to be critical of BIAL. I want to sit with them and work on making Bangalore airport much better, especially from a cargo standpoint. We deserve better and we should not be having to keep pushing for it.

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Regards

Devesh R. Agarwal

Visit my aviation blog at http://aviation.deveshagarwal.com

 

Parliamentary committee recommends UDF witdrawal, reopen HAL

Naveen - 24 October, 2008 - 16:34

This comment has been moved here.

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