Work on Bellary airport to be launched on Aug 20
It will be ready in 24 months; to be named after Krishnadevaraya
The controversial Bellary airport project is now ready to take off.
The State Government, on Friday, signed an agreement with Chennai-based Marg Ltd, a construction firm, for the construction of greenfield airport that will be named after the erstwhile Vijayanagara ruler Krishnadevaraya.
The government will organise the bhoomi pooja for the project on August 20, the same day the ruling BJP is holding a rally in Bellary to counter the Congress padayatra. Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj will take part in the programme.
G R K Reddy of Marg and Manjula Geetha, Under Secretary, Infrastructure Department, signed the agreement in presence of Tourism and Infrastructure Minister G Janardhana Reddy. The airport is being developed on a build, operate and transfer (BOT) basis.
The first phase of the project accommodates ATR 72 flights. In the second, it will be upgraded to accommodate Airbus 320.
The company was selected for the project through an open bid system. It will be paying annually Rs 36,000 per acre to the government. The initial agreement is for 30 years. And, the agreement is extendable by a further 30 years.
Speaking with reporters, Janardhana Reddy said Friday was “historic” for the people of Bellary people.
“Many people had opposed the project. Former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, KPCC President R V Deshpande and activist Medha Patkar came to Bellary to oppose the project. But people of Bellary favoured the project, and farmers parted with their land for it,” he said.
The minister said Bellary had attracted investment to the tune of Rs two lakh crore. The district attracting such huge investments needed an airport. The government had released Rs 110 crore towards the land purchased from farmers.
As much as Rs 93 crore had already been distributed among those losing land.
The rest of the amount would be distributed in a week’s time. G R K Reddy said the airport would be constructed in 24 months. Business might not pick up from the day one, but it would be gradually as many steel industries would come up in the district.
Moreover, Hampi would become a major tourist attraction. “I am hopeful the project is viable”, he said.
Fact file
* Project cost - Rs 110 crore
* Total land - 900 acres
* Initial capacity - To accommodate ATR 72
* Capacity to be expanded to accommodate Airbus 320
* Construction period - 24 months
