BELAGAVI: Member of Parliament (MP) Jagadish Shettar on Saturday (16 May) chaired the Belagavi Aerodrome Advisory Committee meeting to review the ongoing expansion and comprehensive development of the Belagavi Airport.
Prior to the meeting, the MP, along with committee members, conducted a site inspection of the under-construction Terminal-2 (T2) building and directed the concerned engineers to ensure that the work is completed by July 2027.
The high-level meeting focused heavily on resolving critical infrastructure bottlenecks, boosting regional air connectivity, and upgrading passenger amenities.
Crucial Land Transfer for Parallel Taxi Track
A major highlight of the meeting was the discussion regarding the transfer of approximately 15 acres of land belonging to the Indian Air Force. This land is vital for constructing a parallel taxi track at the airport to ease operational traffic.
MP Shettar discussed the matter with senior Air Force officials present at the meeting and requested their full cooperation in swiftly handing over the land to facilitate the airport’s expansion.
Expanding Air Connectivity to Major Cities
In a bid to enhance flight connectivity, the MP held discussions with senior representatives from IndiGo and Star Air. He urged the airlines to launch flight services from Belagavi to major economic and cultural hubs, including:
- Pune
- Chennai
- Ahmedabad
- Jodhpur
The airline officials reportedly responded positively to the proposal, promising to look into the feasibility of adding these routes.
Infrastructure & Traffic Management: Four-Lane Road Proposed
To prevent traffic congestion heading towards the airport, the MP reviewed the progress of converting the road from Belagavi to Sambra Airport into a four-lane highway.
After seeking updates from the Airport Director, Shettar stated that he would soon hold discussions with engineers from the Public Works Department (PWD) to ensure an expedited launch of the road project.
Better Commute and Security Upgrades
Passenger convenience and safety were also heavily prioritized during the review:
- Dedicated Bus Services: To assist travelers, the MP directed the Depot Manager of the North West Karnataka Road Transport Corporation (NWKRTC) to immediately start dedicated bus services between Belagavi Railway Station and the airport, synchronized with flight arrival and departure timings.
- New Police Outpost: Following a request from airline officials to maintain law and order within the airport premises, MP Shettar instructed senior police officials in attendance to take necessary steps to set up a dedicated police outpost within the airport campus.
Committee Members Present
The meeting was attended by Aerodrome Advisory Committee members Rahul Muchandi, Hanamanth Kagalakar, Vijay Bhadra, Raju Desai, Jaysingh Rajput( Representive of Belagavi Core Development Group), and Snehal Kolekar. Airport Authority Director Thyagarajan, alongside senior officials from various government departments, was also present during the review.
What about runway expansion
After availibility of land, currently in discussion