Rift as 42 MLAs want Sira to house second Bengaluru airport: Report
Bengaluru: Forty-two lawmakers cutting across party lines have reportedly signed a petition urging Chief Minister Siddaramaiah to set up Bengaluru’s second international airport at Sira in Tumakuru, about 120 km from the capital city. The campaign, led by senior Congress leader TB Jayachandra, challenges the locations selected by his own government.
The state government has shortlisted three locations for the second airport: two on Kanakapura Road near Harohalli and one on Kunigal Road in Nelamangala. However, Jayachandra, the Sira MLA, argued that the city’s expanding population and future needs make Sira the ideal choice, as reported by Deccan Herald on Tuesday.
Confirming the backing of 42 MLAs for the petition, he emphasised the long-term strategic benefits of selecting Sira over the other sites, pointed out that Sira is close to HAL's helicopter factory and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO) facility at Challakere in neighbouring Chitradurga.
"The locations selected now don’t have water. In Sira, there's water from the Hemavathi river, the Bhadra river and the Yettinahole project," DH quoted Jayachandra, Karnataka’s special representative in New Delhi, as saying. He also cited the availability of 6,000 acres of land in Sira, which he believes is ideal for setting up an international airport.
However, Industries and Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil has expressed strong opposition to the idea, noting that Sira is not a viable location for an international airport
"We're talking about a second international airport for Bengaluru, not a district airport," Patil remarked. He added that they want to propose a district airport for the Tumakuru-Sira-Chitradurga region.
Patil also raised questions about the location’s practicality for potential investors. “If Home Minister G Parameshwara and I, as residents of Sadashivanagar, wanted to fly to New Delhi, would we go to Sira?” Patil questioned, stressing that potential investors like the Ambanis, Bengaluru International Airport Ltd (BIAL), or the Tatas would carefully assess the economic feasibility of building an airport in the region.
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Allen, Raghuvanshi, Green power KKR to 29-run win over GT
Kolkata (PTI): Finn Allen blasted a 35-ball 93, while Angkrish Raghuvanshi hit an unbeaten 44-ball 82 as Kolkata Knight Riders kept their playoff hopes alive with a 29-run win over Gujarat Titans in the IPL match here on Saturday.
Sent in to bat, Allen went on a six-hitting spree, smashing 10 maximums and four boundaries to add 95 off 41 balls with Raghuvanshi (82).
Raghuvanshi then shared another 108 off 53 balls with Cameron Green (52 not out) to power KKR to a challenging 247 for 2.
In reply, GT could manage 218-4, riding on skipper Shubman Gill's 49-ball 85 and a 35-ball 57 from Jos Buttler. Opener Sai Sudarsan was retired hurt but returned to make a 28-ball 53 not out.
Sunil Narine (2/29) claimed two wickets and Saurabh Dubey snapped one for KKR.
For GT, Mohammed Siraj (1/50), Sai Kishore (1/38) were the wicket-takers.
Brief Score:
KKR: 247 for 2 in 20 overs (Finn Allen 93, Angkrish Raghuvanshi 82 not out, Camero Green 52 not out; Mohammed Siraj 1/50).
GT: 218 for 4 in 20 overs (Shubman Gill 85, Sunil Narine 2/29).
