All posts tagged: MB Patil

Airports in Tier-II cities are not financially viable after end of UDAN scheme: Karnataka Minister M.B. Patil

Airports in Tier-II cities are not financially viable after end of UDAN scheme: Karnataka Minister M.B. Patil

A view of the Bidar Airport. | Photo Credit: The Hindu Airports in Tier-II cities and district headquarters have proved to be not financially viable after the end of the UDAN scheme, Industry and Infrastructure Development Minister M. B. Patil said in the Legislative Assembly on Friday. Replying to a question by BJP member G. Janardhana Reddy, Mr. Patil said airports in Tier-II cities such as Kalaburagi, Bidar and Shivamogga are not financially sustainable after the completion of the three-year incentive period under the scheme, which provides concessional airfares to passengers. Across country Noting that several airports located in district and divisional headquarters across the country are facing similar financial challenges, he said the airport at Bidar is currently operating with financial support from the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB). There has also been a demand to resume operations at the Kalaburagi airport with similar support from the Board, he added. To improve the viability of district airports, Mr. Patil said he had proposed to the Union Civil Aviation Minister that the UDAN scheme …

Hassan Airport: A project grounded for over seven decades

Hassan Airport: A project grounded for over seven decades

A file photo of the under-construction Hassan airport at Boovanahalli near Hassan. | Photo Credit: SATHISH G.T. The demand for the construction of an airport in Hassan, about 190 kilometres from Bengaluru, has a long history of over seven decades. However, the work has progressed at a snail’s pace, though the land acquisition began as early as 1966. The actual work on the ground began in 2021, and has showed hardly any progress in the last two years. During the legislative assembly session held in Belagavi in December 2023, Minister for Infrastructure Development M.B. Patil, in response to a question from Hassan MLA Swaroop Prakash, stated that the project would be completed by 2024-25. Giving a status update of the project, he had said then that the project had been taken up at an estimated cost of ₹193.65 crore and ₹164.47 crore had been released. Two years since, there is little progress. In his latest reply to a question raised by former minister H.D. Revanna, who represents Holenarasipur, on Friday (December 12, 2025), Mr. M.B. …