Karnataka keen to operate and maintain new airports on its own: Minister M B Patil

Speaking to reporters at Vidhana Soudha, Patil said that talks will be held with the Centre about the operation and maintenance of new airports.

“Shivamogga airport is ready to commence operations and the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has given approval for the same,” he said. Likewise, Patil added, the government also intends to operate and maintain the under-construction Vijayapura and Hassan airports.

It would be good if we operate and maintain the new airports on our own hereafter and it is going to fetch financial benefits, he opined. Citing an example, he said that the Shirdi airport is being operated and maintained by the Maharashtra government itself. “This model is being followed in 2-3 other states also,” he explained.

The state has set up an airport in Kalaburagi at a cost of Rs 1,000 crore. “However, this has been handed over to the airport authority. Instead of this, there will be local benefits if we run ourselves,” the minister claimed.

Patil also said that at present, there were no plans to take back the land that was sanctioned to the Chanakya University during BJP rule. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah will take a call on this, he added. However, Patil assured of action in cases related to misuse of land and said that land allotments by Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB) will be checked.