`Hubli airport will be upgraded if State provides more land'
The Hindu - Special Correspondent
An additional 650 acres of land is needed for the purpose: AAI
BANGALORE: In a boost to the State's civil aviation infrastructure, the Airports Authority of India has expressed willingness to upgrade the facilities at the Hubli airport to meet international standards if an additional 650 acres of land is provided by the State.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a meeting of airline operators here on Tuesday, AAI Southern Regional Executive Director K. Ramalingam said the State had requested the AAI to upgrade the Hubli airport to meet international standards.
The meeting was held to apprise the operators of the initiatives taken by the State Government in building civil aviation infrastructure and to invite suggestions from them.
It was possible to upgrade the facilities only if additional land was provided. Also, permission had to be obtained by the Union Government, he said.
Night-landing facilities
At present, the AAI was providing night-landing facilities at the Hubli airport and preparing a master plan for development of the terminal building and extension of runway, Mr. Ramalingam said.
Infrastructure Development Principal Secretary V.P. Baligar told reporters that the Government was willing to acquire additional land. However, the actual process of upgrading might take some time. But the land would be acquired now itself to ensure that there were no obstacles for upgrading the domestic airport. The issue would soon be brought up before the State Cabinet, he said.
Earlier, addressing airline operators, the Chief Minister said that the State had taken up the matter with the Union Ministry of Defence to allow defence airports at Karwar and Bidar to be used for civilian operations.
The Government had decided to develop airports in tourist destinations and trade centres.
It would also upgrade the airports at Mangalore, Hubli and Belgaum besides operationalising the Mysore and Bellary airports, Mr. Baligar said.
Mr. Baligar said that while the Defence Ministry had agreed to open up Bidar airport for civilian operations, certain conditions such as acquiring of land for construction of a separate runway had been laid for allowing civilian operations at the Karwar airport. Dr. Ramalingam said there was no proper transport connectivity between the airport and the city centre in some cities such as Mangalore and Hubli as the airports were located on the outskirts. He suggested that the State Government take up a special plan to provide transport arrangements between the airports and the city.
He also expressed concern that escalation in the prices of construction materials such as cement, steel, sand and bitumen was coming in the way of speedy completion of airport projects.
Functional airports
Tourism and Kannada and Culture Secretary I.M. Vittal Murthy said that steps should be taken to construct "functional airports" at tourist destinations such as Bijapur instead of waiting for the acquiring of the total extent of land required.
