The State of Karnataka will develop 15 small airports in Raichur, Hassan, Karwar, Virajpet (Kodagu district), Kolar, Yadgir, Ballari, and various other places in the state to improve regional connectivity. The development project comes after the Karnataka State Cabinet approved the proposal of developing a greenfield airport in Shivamogga district, the hometown of Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, at a cost of INR 380 million. The officials from Karnataka State Industrial & Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC) are in talks with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop these airports and also set up a special-purpose vehicle (SPV). “To improve the regional air connectivity in the State, talks are going on between the Government and AAI to expedite the process of developing 15 airports in Karnataka in a project that may start in a couple of months,” said Anand G Joshi, Executive Director, AAI. Most of the land acquisition for this project is done by the Government and the work of the first phase is expected to be completed in one year.
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