The Hindu Business Line : Aviation sector in Karnataka set to soar

FILE PICTURE OF an Air India Express flight from Dubai making a maiden landing in Mangalore... With the boom in passenger traffic in Karnataka, the State may soon replicate in aviation its success in the IT sector.

The aviation sector is set to witness a huge growth in Karnataka, if all the proposals of the State Government to establish the infrastructure come through.

While the Government recently gave approval for the establishment of 20 helipads in various locations in the State, nearly half-a-dozen small airports are in various stages of planning. This is in addition to the five operational airports — Bangalore, Mangalore, Hubli, Belgaum and Bellary.

At a recent meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee , attached to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation, it was informed that South India accounts for almost one-third share of the entire air traffic of the country. In such a situation it is apt that the Karnataka Government is planning to strengthen and expand the aviation infrastructure in the State.

NEW AIRPORTS

If one goes by the statements of the State government in the last few months, Karnataka is planning to develop airports at Shimoga, Gulbarga, Hassan and Bijapur.

While the State Government has identified the land for the airport at Bijapur, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has to send experts for study. For Gulbarga and Hassan, the government has offered Rs 20 crore each for the development of airports, in addition to the free land. And techno-economic feasibility study has been completed for the Shimoga airport. A private airport has been operating at Thorangallu near Bellary. Work has been taken up on the expansion of airport in Mysore. In Hubli, the Government proposeto acquire 650 acres for the development of the existing airport.

The Government also plans to make use of the Defence airports at Bidar and Karwar. In this regard, the Karnataka Chief Minister recently requested the Defence Minister to permit the movement of civilian aircraft from Bidar. Following this, the Defence Minister has given approval for the development of Bidar airport for civilian aircraft movement.

MORE HELIPADS

Speaking at a function organised by the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) in Mangalore recently, Mr V.P. Baligar, Principal Secretary, Infrastructure Development, said the Karnataka Government had given approval for the establishment of helipads in 20 locations in the State.

The locations are: Hampi and Bellary in Bellary district; Badami and Bijapur in Bijapur district; Belur and Hassan in Hassan district; Chikmagalur and Horanadu in Chikmagalur district; Udupi and Kollur in Udupi district; Madikeri in Kodagu district; Dharmasthala in Dakshina Kannada district; Jog and Shikaripur in Shimoga district; Electronic City, Peenya and Bangalore South in Bangalore; and Raichur, Gadag and Chitradurga districts.

While the Government will build these helipads, it wants the private operators to provide services to these destinations. The high-end visitors are the target customers for this service. Places of religious interest such as Kollur and Dharmasthala or tourist attractions such as Hampi, Badami and Madikeri are attracting a good number of visitors. It is to be noted here that the State Tourism Commissioner had recently written to the State Government seeking helipads at major tourist centres.

According to Mr Baligar, passenger traffic is growing at 55 per cent in Karnataka. He hoped for at least 20-25 per cent growth rate in the next few years. A good aviation infrastructure will help boost that growth.

MANGALORE'S ROLE

If one looks at the traffic figures of the operational airports in Karnataka, Mangalore comes second after Bangalore. Sixteen aircraft movements happen daily at the Mangaore airport. The number is likely to go up in the summer schedule. Added to this, Air India Express has begun services to various Gulf destinations six days a week.

The number of passengers handled at Mangalore airport increased from 2.77 lakh in 2005 to 5.8 lakh during 2006.

The increase in the traffic movement at Mangalore is attributed to the rapid development of industry and service sectors in the area and for the large-base of non-resident Mangaloreans in Gulf region. Air Deccan, Kingfisher Airlines, Jet Airways, Indian and Air India Express operate services from and to Mangalore.

In the case of other operational airports, Air Deccan operates flights from Bangalore to Hubli, Belgaum and Bellary.

Thus most of the proposed airports in Karnataka are in the emerging industrial centres at Gulbarga, Hassan, Shimoga and Mysore. While Tier II cities such as Mangaore, Hubli and Mysore are attracting a considerable number of information technology (IT) companies, some manufacturing units are also planning to locate their operations in tier II cities.

With all these proposals and plans, it is to be seen whether Karnataka will be able to replicate the success in the IT sector in aviation.