BENGALURU: The state is trying to go ahead with its plans for improving regional air connectivity by trying to gain faster clearances from the Airports Authority of India.
Addressing the media at the Make in India-Karnataka conference on Tuesday, Minister for Large and Medium Industries R V Deshpande said he had held a meeting with Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapati Raju and Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha to discuss expediting permissions to go ahead with developing the airport and expanding and upgrading existing ones. He also spoke of starting a regional airline in the state, though he did not expand on it.
“This includes Mangaluru airport, where we want to acquire land to make it into a bigger airport. We need the Centre’s help. There are other airports like Hubballi, Mysuru, Bidar. While Hubballi airport is almost ready to receive an Airbus, Belagavi airport will take another eight months. The ministers have assured us of all help and in a week’s time we will submit a proposal in this regard,” he said.
Also on the agenda is developing the Toranagallu airport in Ballari which is owned by JSW Steels. However, Deshpande was quick to say that they have not made any decision in this regard. “We have not spoken to JSW yet. We will take a look at it and see if this is possible and then we will approach JSW. If they agree, then we can come up with something,” Deshpande added when asked if they were planning a joint venture with JSW.
The airstrips at Chikkamagaluru, Kumta (Uttara Kannada) and Kudur (Ramanagara) are also part of the ambitious plan of the state government. Deshpande also said that policies had to change in accordance with the current global trends and demand.