Karnataka still on the tarmac, AP takes off !

A proposal was made to two chief ministers — Karnataka's H D Kumaraswamy and Andhra Pradesh's Y S Rajashekara Reddy — by Air Deccan managing director Captain G R Gopinath urging them to set up 'low-cost' airports in small towns to cash in on the boom in the economy, improve trade, and give tourism a boost. As usual, Andhra Pradesh swung into action, called the captain to make a presentation, set up a high-power committee and are already working on bringing up three airports. The Karnataka side, it is hoped, will not lag behind. Capt Gopinath's proposal dated July 4, 2006, was to build airports in towns like Karwar (between Karwar and Goa), Bellary, Gulbarga, Hassan, Bijapur, Shimoga, and Bidar in Karnataka and in towns like Adiladabad (a Naxal-infected district), Nellore (has rich rice farmers) and Cuddapah (a remote corner with business opportunities) in Andhra Pradesh.

AP CM Rajashekara Reddy sought a presentation, and has already given the plan go ahead with the airports in his state and set up a task force headed by infrastructure secretary to go ahead with the project. These airports do not require any central sanction and the new aviation policy supports it. Similar proposals made by the Air Deccan MD to other states have also yielded action. Even backward states like Uttaranchal, Himachal Pradesh, Chattisgarh, are keen to develop regional airports. Captain Gopinath is now urging the Karnataka government to put together a comprehensive plan quickly. The letter addressed to the CM states that the Government of Karnataka should seize this opportunity and align its aviation policy in congruence with the Central policy to be the first one to reap the benefits. He said Air Deccan is willing to support the state government by assuring that once these airports are developed, it will operate scheduled flights to these destinations.

"This is a great opportunity for the Karnataka government to take the initiative in enhancing regional connectivity. To oversee the project, a body headed by a senior bureaucrat could be formed on the lines formed by the Maharashtra Airport Development Corporation. Capt Gopinath said "You don't require any buildings, just like those in the African countries,where there are air strips at the safaris and sanctuaries. Small aircraft of the size of 50 seaters come, bring tourists, drop them at the airstrips, take back the exiting group of tourists to the metro destination. The airstrips are grass strips, and small aircraft can easily land." These small airports require the navigation aids and other equipment which are required for landing and take off. Building an expressway between Bangalore and Nelamangala costs Rs 200 crore and with the same money, the government can build 10 such small airports. To make good the money, Capt Gopinath's suggestion is to build a 200-acre industrial park on one side of the airport and build a 200-acre technology park on the other side. "This will spur economic activity."

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