Karnataka plans flurry of airport projects

Buoyed by the launching of Kalaburagi and Bidar airports, the Karnatak government is now set to build four more airports in the state for which it has in-principle approvals from the civil aviation ministry. The government is also tying up with the Indian Navy to build an airport near Ankola and in case the plans fructify, it will take the number of airports outside Bengaluru to 10. The Navy already owns property which it is willing to concede for a civilian airport similar to the one the government constructed in Bidar with the Indian Air Force. However, the government will have to fund construction of all four airports as the Centre had put the onus on the respective project proponents. As per the civil aviation ministry, it has given in-principle approval for airports at Vijayapura (₹150 crore), Hassan (₹592 crore) and Shivamogga (₹39 crore). Land acquisition for these three greenfield airports have been completed, but construction costs need to be factored-in and the state must allocate ₹800 to ₹1,000 crore for the purpose.