HASSAN: Alleged fund crunch and land acquisition woes have hampered work on the greenfield airport in Hassan under the UDAN scheme. Over 80 percent of works, including terminal building, air traffic control tower [ATC], runway and apron, however, have been completed.
The airport is coming up on 516 acres near Bhuvanahalli, 6-km from Hassan city. Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda had laid the foundation stone for the project in 2006. The then government had set aside 1224.16 acres, including 244.33 acres karab land, for the purpose. The project had envisaged an aviation training centre, MRO facility, inland container centre, golf course, hospitality and welfare, technology park, cargo terminal including huge cold storage to store agriculture and horticulture products before export. The state government later dropped the original plan of an international airport due to lack of interest and opted for a no-frill airport.
The project was later taken up under UDAAN scheme of the Union Aviation ministry. The project is also delayed due to the presence of high-tension wires passing across the airport site. The farmers of adjacent lands demanded huge compensation in advance to install the new towers on their land and the authorities finally shifted the towers taking the farmers into confidence.
The state government’s alleged failure to release funds in time for the project is another cause of concern, said a source.
Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation [KSIIDC] has sought Rs 143.67 crore for fresh land acquisition for the construction of connecting roads between the adjacent villages, the airport and Hassan city. Sources say Rs 200 crore is still needed to complete the works attached to the airport.
According to members of the district Chamber of Commerce Industries, tourism would get a boost in the district after the completion of the project. Members of merchants association and retired government officials associations said the airport could have been completed decades ago if there had been political will.
Krishnegoda and Bommegowda, two farmers from Bhuvanahalli, said the project should be completed at the earliest and authorities should provide jobs for locals who had handed over land for the project.