Karnataka's Aviation Dreams Soar: Vijayapura Set To Launch In 2024, Hassan Airport To Follow Suit

Karnataka's aviation sector is on the cusp of notable progress, as underscored by Governor Thawar Chand Gehlot during his address to the joint session of both houses of the state legislature on 12 February.

He announced that Vijayapura Airport is scheduled to be completed and operational by 2024, while reassuring that the construction of airports in Hassan and Raichur will also be accomplished within the designated time frame.

Vijayapura Airport is being built by the Karnataka State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) at a cost of Rs 347.92 crore. The project site is located 15 km from the city on 727-acres of land in Madhabavi, located outside the city premises.

Currently, the airport project is progressing rapidly, with over 80 per cent of the work already completed.

To be named after twelfth-century social reformer and Lingayat saint Basaveshwara, the greenfield airport will feature a passenger terminal building (the terminal will resemble the temples of Hampi), aircraft apron, a singular 1.9 km runway to enable the operation of Airbus 320 type aircraft.

The state government had previously informed the legislative council on 5 December last year that the Vijayapura Airport is on track to be operational by February 2024.

KSIIDC is also building Hassan Airport on 536 acres of land at Boovanahalli, near Hassan City. The airport has been designed to accommodate ATR-72 flights, with the construction slated to be completed by the financial year 2024-25.