On July 15, The Indian Express had reported that Advani, on a day's trip to Gujarat, had commissioned a primary surveillance radar and a secondary surveillance radar, both tested in November last year and declared operational this February.

Admitting this, Ahmedabad Airport director R C Chitkara has said that commissioning of these sophisticated radar systems involves several steps and ``it is imperative that the full operational capability of the system is not only established but brought out before the system is dedicated to the Nation.'' This was done from March to June 1998, he said. And ``at the first opportunity,'' Advani was requested to have the radar system dedicated to the nation.

This explanation, however, contradicts an official AAI press note issued on July 12. In the fifthpara, it is said the radars were ``commissioned on Feb 9, 1998,'' and were ``operating between 0700 hours to 1900 hours daily with the satisfaction of all airlines.''

Even the notice to airmen (NOTAM), issued on that date declared that the radar facility services could be availed of at the airport by aircraft worldwide. Still, Chitkara claims, from March to June, 1998, ``the system's full operational capability'' was being established.