Karnataka's Aviation Vision Takes Wings: New Airports In Shivamogga,Vijayapura,Hassan To Open This Year, Work On Raichur,Karwar Set To Commence

Laying out an expansive vision for the aviation sector in the state in the recently unveiled budget, Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that three under-construction airports(Shivamogga, Vijayapura, Hassan) would be opened in the next 12 to18 months, promised commencement of work on two airports projects for which bids have been invited (Raichur and Karwar), proposed construction of a greenfield airport at Ballari and provided funds for further expansion of Mysuru airport.

“People are showing more interest for air travel mode with a view to save time and for a hassle free travel. In this background, our government has undertaken record number of 5 new airports work in Shivamogga, Vijayapura, Hassan, Raichur and Karwar districts.” CM Bommai said in his budget speech.

Noting that Shivamogga, Vijayapura airport work will be completed in the current financial year, the CM said administrative approval has already granted for the construction of a greenfield field airport in the mineral-rich region of Ballari.

The CM said that the proposed airport in Ballari will be developed under PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model through a competitive bidding process.

The CM also allocated about Rs. 320 crores for the upgradation of Mysuru Airport.

“Feasibility report has already been prepared for the construction of airports in Davangere and Koppala districts. Actions will be taken to commence the construction work in this year.” the CM said.

Karnataka currently has seven operational airports - Bengaluru Kempegowda International Airport, Mangaluru, Mysuru, Belagavi, Hubbali, Bidar and Kalaburagi.

Here is a look at the status of under-construction and approved airports in Karnataka.

Shivamogga Airport: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to inaugurate the airport, the second biggest in the state after the international airport in Bengaluru, on February 27, coinciding with the 80th birthday of former Chief Minister B.S Yediyurappa.

Yediyurappa is widely credited with championing the airport project in Sogane near Shivamogga and ensuring its execution despite multiple hurdles. Shivamogga is the home district of the former CM. While Yediyurappa represents the Shikaripura assembly constituency in the district, his son B Y Raghavendra represents the Shimoga constituency in Lok Sabha.

Shivamogga airport is located at Sogane village, at a distance of 12 km from the city, on 663 acres of land (the total available for the proposed airport is about 775 acres ) at an investment of Rs 449.22 crore. Yediyurappa originally mooted the project during his tenure as deputy CM in the JD(S)-BJP government. He also tried to provide impetus during his stint as the state CM between 2009 and 2012. The project regained momentum in late 2019 after the newly formed BJP government released Rs 45 crores for the work.

In June 2020, Yediyurappa laid the foundation for constructing the airport project’s first phase at Rs 220 crore. KIADB and the state Public Works Department (PWD) are jointly executing the project.

The domestic terminal building will encompass an area of 4231.64 sqm. Capable of handling 300 passengers (150 arrival+ 150 departure) during peak hours with all modern facilities and amenities. The building will provide aesthetically appealing and soothing interior decoration matching the contemporary structure. Airfield Ground Lighting (AGL) & Navigation & Communication System is based on ICAO.

The airport is designed to operate Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 type aircraft and can handle about 200 peak-hour passengers. The project is being executed in two phases. The first phase consists of a runway, taxiway, apron, approach road, peripheral road and compound wall construction, while the second phase consists of a terminal building, ATC tower, and fire station building.

The airport is expected to boost tourism, industries and economic activities in Shivamogga and Chikkamagaluru districts.

Vijayapura Airport: Vijayapura Airport is being built by the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) at the cost of Rs 220 crore. The project site is located 15 km from the city on 727-acres of land in Madhabavi, located outside the city premises. The airport project is at an advanced stage of construction, with more than 80% of the work completed.

In February 2021, the then Chief Minister Yediyurappa laid the foundation stone for the construction of Vijayapura airport.

The airport was first approved by the JD(S)-BJP government in March 2007 but met numerous hurdles, and the project was halted in 2012. It was revived in 2021 by Yediyurappa government. The state cabinet entrusted the KSIIDC to serve as the nodal agency for the project, and the State Public Works Department was appointed as the implementation agency.

The work on the project is being taken up in two phases. M/S Alur Construction Company of Vijayapura is executing the works under first phase. While Rs 222.92 crore has been earmarked for the first phase, Rs 125 crore is for the second phase.

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 and car parking facilities. While it was initially envisaged to operate small ATR-72-600 type aircraft at the cost of Rs 95 crore and handle about 200 peak hour passengers, the BJP-led state government decided to upgrade the airport to facilitate the flying of Airbus-320 by releasing an additional Rs 127.92 crore.

The airport will be named after 12th-century social reformer and Lingayat saint Basaveshwara. 

The airport was originally mooted in 2007 by JD(S)-BJP coalition government.

In 2010. the BJP government signed the MoU with Chennai-based Marg Ltd. for implementing the airport project under the public-private partnership (PPP) model. The government acquired 727 acres of land at Burnapur village in Bijapur taluk for the project. The government spent around Rs. 30 crore on the land acquisition. Marg proposed to spend Rs. 200 crore on developing the airport and maintaining it for 30 years after which there will be a provision to renew the contract. However, Marg abandoned the project claiming it was economically unviable.

Hassan Airport: Hassan Airport is a greenfield airport being constructed at Boovanahalli village, 6 km from the city.

The airport is being built on 536 acres of land, though the total land notified for the project is 960 acres. Of the remaining 434 acres, an extent of 214 is government land.

The State government had initially found the project financially un-viable and decided to revise the project plan in 2012. The project was revived in 2021 during the tenure of Yediyurappa, and the airport development was taken up the UDAN scheme at the cost of Rs 175 crore.

Yediyurappa, as Chief Minister, also allocated ₹196 crores in his budget for the year 2021.

The work in the first package is set to end by April 2023. The current runway has been planned to accommodate ATR-72 flights. Provision has been made to extend the runway to land Airbus 320. The process has begun to acquire 24 acres for the purpose.

The Airport proposal at Hassan was originally in the year 1967. In fact, the Public Works Department (PWD) of the Government of Karnataka had acquired 134.28 acres of land as early in 1972 for the airport project.

In 2007, it was agreed that the project would be implemented as a joint venture between the Karnataka government and M/s Jupiter Aviation and Logistics Pvt Ltd. An agreement was inked between the Karnataka government and the Jupiter Aviation to construct the airport on Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) basis. However the project never took off.

When the JD(S)-Congress alliance came to power in 2018, the government cancelled the understanding with Jupiter Aviation.

Karwar Airport: Karwar Airport is a proposed greenfield civil terminal at Algeri village near Ankola, Karnataka. Airports Authority of India will operate the civil enclave facility at the Indian Navy’s Karwar Air Base (Project Seabird).

The airport is designed to handle B-737 sized aircrafts and is expected to open by 2027.

In August 2021, the state government approved the land acquisition of 87.14 acres and 15 guntas in Algeri, Belekeri and Bhavikeri villages.

The site is adjacent to NH-66 and Konkan Railway Line, and this will help in creating a transport infrastructure hub at this site,

Raichur Airport:  In April 2021, the Karnataka state cabinet gave administrative approval for the domestic airport’s detailed project report (DPR) Raichur greenfield at Rs 185.57 crore. RITES India prepared the DPR. The work on the Raichur airport will set to commence shortly. So far, around 400 acres of land have been acquired.