Karnataka To Launch First Flight Training Centre

04 Jun 2025 CW Team

In a major boost to aviation skill development, the Karnataka government has announced the establishment of its first-ever Flight Training Organisation (FTO) at Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport in Shivamogga. The initiative, led by the Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC), aims to build world-class infrastructure to train aspiring pilots within the state.

Minister for Large and Medium Industries, M B Patil, shared that the FTO will begin by training 100 cadets, with the first 50 students starting in the inaugural year. Notably, 25 per cent of seats will be reserved for Karnataka-based and women candidates, who will also benefit from subsidised training fees.

The upcoming facility, spanning 3,500 square metres, will include aircraft hangars, simulators, classrooms, briefing rooms, and a radio telephony training centre, all aligned with standards prescribed by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), and the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS).

Operations, aircraft, and admissions will be managed by a private agency, while KSIIDC will oversee air traffic control, safety systems, and maintenance. Tenders have already been invited, with aircraft deployment expected within three months and training to commence within nine months of agreement signing.

Located in Sogane, 15 km from Shivamogga city, Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport was inaugurated in February 2023 and features a 3,200-metre runway, the second-longest in the state. It can accommodate aircraft ranging from ATR 72s to Airbus A320s.

This strategic move is set to transform Shivamogga into a key aviation training hub, offering new opportunities to young pilots across Karnataka and beyond.

Infrastructure Transport

09 Jan 2026

India Becomes First to Produce Bio-Bitumen for Roads

India has become the first country in the world to commercially produce bio-bitumen for use in road construction, according to Road, Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari. Bitumen, a black and viscous hydrocarbon derived from crude oil, is a key binding material in road building, and the bio-based alternative is expected to significantly improve the sector’s environmental footprint.Addressing the CSIR Technology Transfer Ceremony in New Delhi, Mr Gadkari congratulated Council of Scientific and Industrial Research on achieving the milestone, noting that the initiative would help curb ..

HILT Policy Seen Boosting Telangana Revenue Sharply

The Hyderabad Industrial Land Transformation (HILT) Policy is expected to generate around Rs 1.08 billion in revenue for the Telangana state exchequer, according to Deputy Chief Minister Bhatti Vikramarka Mallu. Speaking in the Telangana Legislative Assembly, he said the policy would be implemented within a six-month timeframe in a transparent manner, with uniform rules applicable to all stakeholders. Mr Vikramarka noted that without the HILT Policy, the state would have earned only about Rs 1.2 million per acre. Under the new framework, however, revenue is projected to rise sharply to Rs 70 ..

India Post, MoRD Tie Up to Boost Rural Inclusion

The Department of Posts and the Ministry of Rural Development have signed a Memorandum of Understanding to accelerate rural transformation and expand financial, digital and logistics services for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and rural households across India. The agreement was signed in the presence of Union Minister of Communications and Development of North Eastern Region Jyotiraditya M. Scindia and Union Minister of Rural Development and Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The collaboration aligns with the government’s “Dak Sewa, Jan Sewa” vision and seeks to repositi..