CM woos aviation firms, promises all help

Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa today invited aviation companies to make Bangalore a cargo hub for the regions of South East Asia, West Asia and Africa, and promised to extend required help. Addressing the inaugural function of Aero India 2009 here, he said an 11-acre cargo village is getting ready at Bangalore International Airport at Devanahally on the city’s outskirts.

“I invite aviation companies to consider making Bangalore the centre of supply chain for perishable items and high value small products”, he said. Yeddyurappa also said that the Bangalore Metro project is to commence soon with most of the tenders to be awarded shortly. Metro trains are expected to run from December 2011 in the city.

The chief minister said Bangalore has not been chosen as a location for stationing a NSG unit, despite repeated requests to the Centre. Given Bangalore’s vulnerability to terrorist attacks in view of strategic institutions located here, he said stationing of an NSG unit here is rightly needed. He urged defence minister A K Antony, who opened the five-day show at Yelahanka Air Force Station, to use his good offices to sanction an NSG unit for Bangalore. Antony, later said “When I go back to Delhi, I will discuss this matter with my colleagues”.