Bengaluru: The domestic air connectivity in Karnataka is all set to get a boost with the government fast-tracking projects to develop small airports.
Ten days after the cabinet approved the proposal to develop a greenfield airport in chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s home district, Shivamogga, the state on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airports Authorities of India (AAI) to operationalise the Rs 181-crore Kalaburagi airport.
Officials said plans are afoot to develop at least 15 small airports with the setting up of the special purpose vehicle (SPV).
“Talks are on for the past two days between the government and the AAI to expedite the process of developing small airports, which is in accordance with the civil aviation ministry’s policy to support regional air connectivity. The projects are expected to take off in a couple of months,” said AAI executive director Anand G Joshi.
The AAI and Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSSIDC) are setting up SPV for each airport.
The dormant airport projects which will find a second wind are Raichur, Hassan, Karwar, Virajpet (Kodagu), Kolar, Yadgir, Ballari among others.
Kapil Mohan, principle secretary to the infrastructure department, said land acquisition is already done for most of the projects and the work will be completed in a year. Belagavi and Mysuru airports with 13 and 8 flights, respectively, are going strong underlining the need of more airports, he claimed.
However, many are questioning the need for so many airports in the state.
“When the existing assets are underutilised, we would only end up overdoing by developing more airports and wasting resources,” said urban expert V Ravichandar.
26/08/19 Times of India
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Ten days after the cabinet approved the proposal to develop a greenfield airport in chief minister BS Yediyurappa’s home district, Shivamogga, the state on Saturday signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Airports Authorities of India (AAI) to operationalise the Rs 181-crore Kalaburagi airport.
Officials said plans are afoot to develop at least 15 small airports with the setting up of the special purpose vehicle (SPV).
“Talks are on for the past two days between the government and the AAI to expedite the process of developing small airports, which is in accordance with the civil aviation ministry’s policy to support regional air connectivity. The projects are expected to take off in a couple of months,” said AAI executive director Anand G Joshi.
The AAI and Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSSIDC) are setting up SPV for each airport.
The dormant airport projects which will find a second wind are Raichur, Hassan, Karwar, Virajpet (Kodagu), Kolar, Yadgir, Ballari among others.
Kapil Mohan, principle secretary to the infrastructure department, said land acquisition is already done for most of the projects and the work will be completed in a year. Belagavi and Mysuru airports with 13 and 8 flights, respectively, are going strong underlining the need of more airports, he claimed.
However, many are questioning the need for so many airports in the state.
“When the existing assets are underutilised, we would only end up overdoing by developing more airports and wasting resources,” said urban expert V Ravichandar.
26/08/19 Times of India
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