Bangalore: The Election Commission has directed the Civil Aviation Ministry to postpone the inauguration of the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli by 24 hours.
It will now open on Saturday early morning because Karnataka will go to polls in the third phase of Assembly elections on Wednesday and the opening of airport would have been a violation of the model code of conduct.
The airport was to open exactly 24 hours earlier on Friday.
"The Central government hereby notifies that the Bangalore International Airport at Devanahalli would be commissioned with effect from 0001 hours of May 24, 2008, instead of with effect from 0001 hours of May 23, 2008, as notified earlier," a Civil Aviation Ministry notification said.
The Ministry issued the notification after the EC advised it to consult the state government and the Director General of Police for security and law and order in view of the counting of votes on May 25, which could engage police personnel.
However, EC sources said the poll panel had no objection to the launch of the airport so far as the model code of conduct was concerned.
A BIAL spokesperson said the switchover to the new airport from the old HAL-operated airport would take place on the midnight of May 23-24.
Flights landing and departing after midnight would operate from the new airport.
Commenting on the notification, BIAL CEO Albert Brunner said, "We are taken by surprise. In fact, we have just communicated our preparedness for tomorrow. However, there is nothing we can do at this point. All our efforts are now towards minimising passenger and airlines' inconvenience owing to this postponement."
Protests have also intensified across Bangalore on the closure of the old airport
(With inputs from PTI)
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