'Work on airport expansion after land acquisition'

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh, on Wednesday, informed the Lok Sabha that work on the expasion of Mysore airport will be taken up once the land is acquired for it. 

Replying to A H Vishwanath (Congress) during the question hour, the minister said the Ministry had written to the Karnataka government to take immediate steps to hand over the land. Vishwanath had alleged that though the Centre had sanctioned Rs 140 crore for the expansion works, the BJP government in the State was not taking any steps to acquire the land.

Replaying to another question by the member, the minister said there is no proposal before the Centre to construct a new airport at Kodagu.

Answering Suresh Angadi (BJP), the minister said the Belgaum airport is being developed jointly by the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and Indian Navy. Of the total cost of Rs 293 crore, the AAI will provide Rs 142 crore and the rest will be borne by the Indian Navy.

On the request of operating Air India flight from this airport, Ajit Singh said he would take up the issue with the airlines.