15 airports in Karnataka can opt for regional link plan
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Airlines could get Viability Gap Funding and tax concessions if they opt for a route under the scheme, which connects an unserved or underserved facility. DH File Photo.
Fifteen unserved airports or airstrips in Karnataka have found a place in a list of 394 facilities across the country that could opt for the regional connectivity scheme.
According to an official draft, in south India, Karnataka has the highest number of unserved airstrips of airports that could opt for the ambitious scheme drafted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation "to connect the unconnected" and "serve the unserved or underserved".
The unused airports or airstrips in Karnataka include Ammasandra, Baldota/Koppal, Ballari, Bidar, Ginigera (Hospet), Hassan, Jakur, Kolar, Mysuru (Mandakalli), Raichur, Shahbad, Vidyanagar, Yadgir and Yelahanka. While Tamil Nadu has 13 such facilities, Telangana has 10, AP 4 and Kerala one.
West Bengal and Rajasthan have the highest number of facilities (35), followed by Bihar (32) and Uttar Pradesh (29).
Karnataka could look at wooing airlines to start operations from these facilities under the scheme, a civil aviation ministry official said.
Airlines could get Viability Gap Funding and tax concessions if they opt for a route under the scheme, which connects an unserved or underserved facility. The states will have to give sops like reducing VAT on Air Turbine Fuel. The official said the states are not losing anything by giving concessions as there is no activity at such facilities now.
The Centre wants the states to reduce VAT on jet fuel to 1% or less at such airports or airstrips for 10 years. Also, it could give land free of cost and devoid of encumbrances for the development of airports.
According to an official draft, in south India, Karnataka has the highest number of unserved airstrips of airports that could opt for the ambitious scheme drafted by the Ministry of Civil Aviation "to connect the unconnected" and "serve the unserved or underserved".
The unused airports or airstrips in Karnataka include Ammasandra, Baldota/Koppal, Ballari, Bidar, Ginigera (Hospet), Hassan, Jakur, Kolar, Mysuru (Mandakalli), Raichur, Shahbad, Vidyanagar, Yadgir and Yelahanka. While Tamil Nadu has 13 such facilities, Telangana has 10, AP 4 and Kerala one.
West Bengal and Rajasthan have the highest number of facilities (35), followed by Bihar (32) and Uttar Pradesh (29).
Karnataka could look at wooing airlines to start operations from these facilities under the scheme, a civil aviation ministry official said.
Airlines could get Viability Gap Funding and tax concessions if they opt for a route under the scheme, which connects an unserved or underserved facility. The states will have to give sops like reducing VAT on Air Turbine Fuel. The official said the states are not losing anything by giving concessions as there is no activity at such facilities now.
The Centre wants the states to reduce VAT on jet fuel to 1% or less at such airports or airstrips for 10 years. Also, it could give land free of cost and devoid of encumbrances for the development of airports.