Karnataka government to control and run new minor airports
AVIATION & AIRPORTS

Karnataka government to control and run new minor airports

The Karnataka government plans to control and run all new minor airports in the state rather than turning over all existing airports to Airports Authority of India (AAI), claiming that doing so would be "better business sense".

The government is required to pay for land acquisition and construction as well as to provide "all basic facilities," according to Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil, but "it neither has a say in operations nor is there any revenue sharing mechanism with AAI."

Karnataka is home to eight operational airports. The Shivamogga airport has yet to start performing paid services. Tenders have been floated for one in Raichur, and two more are being built—one each in Hassan and Vijayapura. There are two more airports being studied for feasibility. Once an airport is turned over to AAI, according to officials, the decision is final and cannot be "reconsidered" at a later time.

The government intends to transfer management of future airports to the department of large and medium industries' Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC).

According to the minister, there are examples of governments running airports in other states and in Karnataka as well. He used the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Corporation (KSIIDC), a state government organization, as an example. It manages the Shivamogga airport.

“In Maharashtra, the Shirdi airport is run by the state government, and even in Rajasthan, there are airports that are run by the Rajasthan government. We also would like to have a hold over our airports,” Patil said.

Officials claimed that the choice was made after the state government was informed that it would be responsible for all costs and losses. "For instance, consider Mysuru Airport. The state government will be responsible for paying for any future land acquisition for growth, according to a stipulation in the deal with AAI. We are purchasing land today for Rs 3.2 billion, but no money is coming in, according to a top government official.

Patil further emphasized that although the Kalaburagi airport was constructed at a cost of Rs 10 billion, the state has no control over how it is administered.

Officials said owning future airports made better “business sense”. “If the government feels it cannot run the airport, it can either hand it over to AAI at that point or put it up for sale to private parties,” an official said. “The value of capital assets would have increased by then, and the state government can recover whatever had been spent and perhaps even more. ”

The DGCA and the civil aviation ministry will need to provide their consent for the government to own and operate these airports if it decides to do so.

With the Union government, according to Patil, the problem would be discussed. “The directorate of civil aviation has granted approval for commercial operations at Shivamogga airport,” Patil said.

“Likewise, the government intends to operate and maintain Vijayapura and Hassan airports which are under construction. There will be financial benefits to the state and local benefits as well if we run these airports ourselves. ”

See also:
Shivamogga Airport to begin flight operations
Mangaluru airport completes 2.4km runway recarpeting ahead of schedule


The Karnataka government plans to control and run all new minor airports in the state rather than turning over all existing airports to Airports Authority of India (AAI), claiming that doing so would be better business sense. The government is required to pay for land acquisition and construction as well as to provide all basic facilities, according to Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil, but it neither has a say in operations nor is there any revenue sharing mechanism with AAI. Karnataka is home to eight operational airports. The Shivamogga airport has yet to start performing paid services. Tenders have been floated for one in Raichur, and two more are being built—one each in Hassan and Vijayapura. There are two more airports being studied for feasibility. Once an airport is turned over to AAI, according to officials, the decision is final and cannot be reconsidered at a later time. The government intends to transfer management of future airports to the department of large and medium industries' Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC). According to the minister, there are examples of governments running airports in other states and in Karnataka as well. He used the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Corporation (KSIIDC), a state government organization, as an example. It manages the Shivamogga airport. “In Maharashtra, the Shirdi airport is run by the state government, and even in Rajasthan, there are airports that are run by the Rajasthan government. We also would like to have a hold over our airports,” Patil said. Officials claimed that the choice was made after the state government was informed that it would be responsible for all costs and losses. For instance, consider Mysuru Airport. The state government will be responsible for paying for any future land acquisition for growth, according to a stipulation in the deal with AAI. We are purchasing land today for Rs 3.2 billion, but no money is coming in, according to a top government official. Patil further emphasized that although the Kalaburagi airport was constructed at a cost of Rs 10 billion, the state has no control over how it is administered. Officials said owning future airports made better “business sense”. “If the government feels it cannot run the airport, it can either hand it over to AAI at that point or put it up for sale to private parties,” an official said. “The value of capital assets would have increased by then, and the state government can recover whatever had been spent and perhaps even more. ” The DGCA and the civil aviation ministry will need to provide their consent for the government to own and operate these airports if it decides to do so. With the Union government, according to Patil, the problem would be discussed. “The directorate of civil aviation has granted approval for commercial operations at Shivamogga airport,” Patil said. “Likewise, the government intends to operate and maintain Vijayapura and Hassan airports which are under construction. There will be financial benefits to the state and local benefits as well if we run these airports ourselves. ” See also: Shivamogga Airport to begin flight operationsMangaluru airport completes 2.4km runway recarpeting ahead of schedule

Next Story
Technology

Building Faster, Smarter, and Greener!

Backed by ULCCS’s century-old legacy, U-Sphere combines technology, modular design and sustainable practices to deliver faster and more efficient projects. In an interaction with CW, Rohit Prabhakar, Director - Business Development, shares how the company’s integrated model of ‘Speed-Build’, ‘Smart-Build’ and ‘Sustain-Build’ is redefining construction efficiency, quality and environmental responsibility in India.U-Sphere positions itself at the intersection of speed, sustainability and smart design. How does this translate into measurable efficiency on the ground?At U..

Next Story
Infrastructure Transport

Smart Roads, Smarter India

India’s infrastructure boom is not only about laying more kilometres of highways – it’s about building them smarter, safer and more sustainably. From drones mapping fragile Himalayan slopes to 3D machine-controlled graders reducing human error, technology is steadily reshaping the way projects are planned and executed. Yet, the journey towards digitisation remains complex, demanding not just capital but also coordination, training and vision.Until recently, engineers largely depended on Survey of India toposheets and traditional survey methods like total stations or DGPS to prepare detai..

Next Story
Real Estate

What Does DCPR 2034 Mean?

The Maharashtra government has eased approval norms for high-rise buildings under DCPR 2034, enabling the municipal commissioner to sanction projects up to 180 m on large plots. This change is expected to streamline approvals, reduce procedural delays and accelerate redevelopment, drawing reactions from developers, planners and industry experts about its implications for Mumbai’s vertical growth.Under the revised DCPR 2034 rules, buildings on plots of 2,000 sq m or more can now be approved up to 180 m by the municipal commissioner, provided structural and geotechnical reports are certified b..

Advertisement

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Get daily newsletters around different themes from Construction world.

STAY CONNECTED

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

Talk to us?