There's no space for helipad to take off

BANGALORE: With the government''s proposed helipad on the Palace Grounds caught in a quagmire, the harassment of city commuters, caused by the movement of VVIP motorcades, is unlikely to end early.
The helipad was planned to airlift VVIPs from the airport to the city-centre, close to locations like Raj Bhavan and 5-star hotels, without dislocating traffic along the way.
However, the helipad project can take off only if Palace authorities permit the government to start construction. The government is unwilling to write to the authorities because of its longstanding row with them over the ownership of the Palace estate.
Some years back a local court upheld the plea of the Palace against a government order and ruled that the Maharaja of Mysore would continue to hold the property. The government appealed against this ruling in the Supreme Court, which ordered a status quo, pending a final settlement.
In view of the legal logjam, the government has just two options if it is serious about the helipad project: either approach the Palace for permission or find an alternative site.
According to a legal opinion just received by the government, it can go ahead and acquire the land required for the helipad with the consent of the Maharaja''s sister. “We should be able to request the Palace authorities and have the helipad in two months'' time,'''' an official said.
Meanwhile, efforts to identify alternative locations for the helipad have failed. The Indian Institute of Science (IISc) campus, Bangalore, has been rejected because its long distance from the city-centre defeats the very purpose of the helipad, which is to prevent traffic jams caused by VVIP movements to locations like the Raj Bhavan.
The B.R.V. Parade Grounds too is unsuitable because of its tall trees, the high-rise buildings on M. G. Road and the lighting towers at the Chinnaswamy cricket stadium. Similarly, the idea of building the helipad at the Race Course has been rejected because of insufficient space.
However, with the Race Course poised to move to a new place, that site could be used for a helipad. Further, if VVIPs like Prime Ministers come to Bangalore, at least three helicopters would fly in tandem, requiring a large space.