Raichur Airport Stalled, Vijayapura Nearly Done; MB Patil Pushes for Fast Track Solutions

Bengaluru: Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil convened a meeting on Friday to review the progress of various airport and airstrip development projects across the state.

Following the meeting, Minister Patil acknowledged that several projects are currently facing technical hurdles, while others are delayed due to incomplete land acquisition. He emphasised that strict instructions have been given to officials to swiftly resolve these issues.

One of the major concerns discussed was the Rs 219 crore Raichur Greenfield Airport project on the 322-acre site, which has encountered delays due to technical issues. Minister Patil stated that officials have been directed to engage with the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) to address these obstacles and even visit Delhi if needed.

He further informed that the Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the Raichur project is already prepared, and the necessary environmental clearances should be obtained without delay.

The Minister also called for the swift advancement of work at Hassan Airport.

He noted that flight operations from Bidar Airport have been halted due to the suspension of the UDAN scheme. He instructed officials to explore alternative options with other service providers and to investigate the possibility of resuming operations under the UDAN scheme.

He mentioned that work on Vijayapura Airport is almost complete and directed officials to expedite the procurement of fire extinguisher vehicles for the airport. He also instructed them to take appropriate action to acquire the land required for constructing a connecting road to Vijayapura Airport.

In line with promoting tourism, the government has announced the construction of airstrips in Chikkamagaluru, Kodagu, Dharmasthala, and Hampi. For this, 140 acres of land are required in both Kodagu and Dharmasthala. The Minister directed that this process be completed after consultations with the respective MLAs and district administrations.

Regarding Chikkamagaluru, Minister Patil mentioned that 120 acres of land have already been identified, but an additional 17.5 acres are needed. Officials have been directed to locate the remaining land, and Pawan Hans, a helicopter service company, has been asked to prepare a DPR for the project.

Additionally, Minister Patil highlighted the need for 97 more acres of land for the development of a civil enclave in Karwar, noting that over Rs 27.34 crore has already been allocated for this project.

Raichur District In-charge Minister Dr. Sharan Prakash Patil, Minister Bosaraju, MP Kumar Naik, Raichur Deputy Commissioner Nitesha, Chikkamagaluru MLA Thammaiah, KSIIDC Managing Director Khushbu Goyal, and Hebsiba Rani, Additional Secretary of the Department of Infrastructure, were among the officials present at the meeting.