New Airports in Karnataka

Karnataka chief minister B S Yeddyurappa pitched the development flag in the long-neglected Congress fief of Gulbarga by kicking off the airport work at Srinivas Saradgi village. The CM said the work on the airport, taken up as public-private initiative, would begin inside of five days and hoped it would be completed in 24 months. The CM hoped the airport, once functional, would attract major industries, creating job opportunities for the locals. Work on Shimoga and Hassan airports, too, will begin soon. Also, the government has proposed to build an airport in Bijapur on the Gulbarga model.He said Hubli, Mangalore and Belgaum airports, which are plagued by capacity constraints, will be expanded to meet the increasing air traffic.The CM said the Indian Air Force has given permission for using its base in Karwar, Mysore and Bidar for civil aviation. Yeddyurappa held the Airports Authority of India responsible for the Bidar airport terminal construction delay.