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The Karnataka Government has handed over around 460 acres of land for the development of Hubli airport, according to Mr D. Devaraj, Regional Executive-Director of the Airports Authority of India (AAI), Southern Region.
In an informal chat with Business Line on the sidelines of a national conference on ‘Indian aviation and tourism: opportunities, challenges and new directions' in Mangalore, he said that survey for the Hubli airport was done last month and the land was handed over to AAI.
First, there will be a development plan for the expansion of the existing runway, he said.
Integrated terminal
On Mysore airport, Mr Devaraj said that a new integrated terminal building complex was commissioned in May 2010 for this airport. One aircraft has already begun operation at the Mysore airport. Some more land has to be given to AAI to bring bigger aircraft to Mysore, he said.
On the development of Mangalore airport, he said that plans have been drawn up to extend the runway length from the present 8,000 ft to 10,000 ft. The expansion will help in handling bigger aircraft.
Stating that AAI is planning to have new technical block in Mangalore, he said tenders for the same have been invited from eligible bidders.
Seamless transportation
Earlier, making a presentation on ‘Challenges in aviation and tourism in India' at the conference, he said that air transport was the quickest mode of travel to a few remote, hilly and inaccessible areas in the country's border in the west, north and north-east regions.
Mr Devaraj suggested that airports be integrated with other modes of transport like railways and highways. This would enable seamless transportation to all parts of the country.
He said that growth of tourism was essential for the growth of the aviation sector. Terming airports as the gateways, he said they form the first impression among tourists visiting new places.
The conference was jointly organised by the AAI, Mangalore University and the Mangalore Airport Diamond Jubilee Celebration Committee.
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