Bengaluru: The upcoming swanky Shimoga airport in Karnataka has landed in a controversy with the Congress objecting to its lotus-shape design of the terminal. The party pointed out that the lotus is the election symbol of the ruling BJP in Karnataka.
Congress spokesperson Brijesh Kalappa said, “The airport terminal is lotus-shaped and is also a party symbol of the BJP. Delhi High Court has already in 2016 said public money can't be used to construct structures which resemble party symbols.”
Incidentally, Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, who also hails from Shimoga district, has speeded up the construction of the airport terminal by the end 2022 even there are allegations that the cost of constructing the terminal has gone up following the intervention of the CM’s controversial son BS Vijayendra.
Yediyurappa has taken special interest in the construction of the terminal. During his last visit, he had said: “The flight commencement should begin by next year-end and I have asked DC to work on priority. I will visit the airport every two months to do a status check.”
Reacting to the Congress allegations, the BJP said the lotus was a national flower and had nothing to do with the BJP’s election symbol.
Shimoga airport is being constructed at Sogane on the outskirts of the city. The cost of airport construction is pegged at Rs 384 crore.
The construction of Shimoga airport’s 1.7 km long runway has already been completed.
