Karnataka to present civil aviation policy at next cabinet meeting
Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil said the policy covers funding and operational mechanisms for State-managed airports.
Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil announced on Tuesday that the Karnataka government will present a comprehensive policy to boost civil aviation at the next Cabinet meeting. According to reports from Deccan Chronicle, ANI, and The Hindu, the policy will address operational mechanisms, financial assistance, and viability gap funding (VGF) for airports managed by the State.
Patil stated that the policy could serve as a model for the rest of the country. He noted that the State is currently managing airports in Shivamogga, Raichur, and Vijayapura to avoid handing them over to the Union Government after investing significant funds.
The Minister attributed the suspension of flight services at Shivamogga Airport to flaws in the Centre's UDAN-2 scheme. He said the State had proposed increasing the UDAN scheme duration from three to five years, followed by five years of joint operations where the Centre and State share costs equally, but the proposal was not accepted.
Patil mentioned that flight services at Kalaburagi Airport were restored using 80 per cent funding from the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB) and 20 per cent from the State. He also noted that the State spent Rs 1,000 crore on Kalaburagi Airport before handing it to the Centre without receiving any return.
Addressing other issues, Patil alleged the Union Government created a crisis by allowing ethanol blending in petrol beyond prescribed limits. He held Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways Nitin Gadkari responsible and called for a comprehensive investigation into the matter.