Copyright thehindu
Kalaburagi MP Radhakrishna Doddamani has urged Union Minister for Civil Aviation Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu to take urgent steps to restore air connectivity from Kalaburagi and include the airport under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS–UDAN) on a priority basis, to ensure sustained operations and promote regional development in the Kalyana Karnataka region. In a detailed communication addressed to the Minister, Mr. Doddamani drew attention to the operational and commercial difficulties faced by Kalaburagi airport despite having the necessary infrastructure and growing passenger traffic. He pointed out that the abrupt suspension of services by Star Airlines to and from Kalaburagi, with effect from October 15, had caused considerable hardship to passengers, business travellers, students, and tourists who depend on this vital connectivity. Emphasising the airport’s strategic importance, the MP said Kalaburagi, being the regional capital of Kalyana Karnataka with four major universities, a permanent bench of the Karnataka High Court, multi-speciality health-care facilities, and key administrative offices, requires reliable air services for its educational, commercial, and administrative growth. The discontinuation of air services, he said, had placed additional strain on already overburdened railway and road transport systems. He sought the Minister’s personal intervention to direct the airline concerned to resume operations, or to facilitate alternative arrangements to restore air connectivity at the earliest. Stable air fares Mr. Doddamani also called for Kalaburagi airport to be brought under the RCS–UDAN framework with sustained viability gap funding and operational subsidies to ensure profitable and continuous flight operations. He suggested that airfare under the RCS–UDAN scheme be fixed at ₹2,500 for a flight duration of up to one hour, which would ensure affordable and predictable pricing for passengers while maintaining the long-term sustainability of airline operations. To enhance the airport’s capacity and accommodate future traffic growth, he proposed the addition of two aircraft parking bays and connecting taxiways, which would enable the airport to handle increased flight operations efficiently and attract more airlines. The MP requested the Ministry’s support in securing suitable landing and takeoff slots at major airports, such as Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Mumbai, and Delhi, observing that airlines operating from Kalaburagi often face difficulties in obtaining slots at these congested hubs. Preferential access at such airports, he said, would enhance route viability and scheduling flexibility, thereby improving overall connectivity. Kalaburagi has ample land for aviation-related projects Mr. Doddamani suggested offering long-term policy support and incentives to encourage investment in aviation-related activities at Kalaburagi airport. These could include tax benefits and subsidies for establishing flight training academies, maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) facilities, and cargo terminals. Financial incentives could also be provided to airlines operating services on less-served routes under the RCS–UDAN framework. Targeted funding or public-private partnership models for setting up aviation training centres and MRO units, he said, would attract private investment, create employment, and establish Kalaburagi as a regional aviation skills hub in northern Karnataka. Mr. Doddamani pointed out that Kalaburagi airport has ample land for aviation-related development and proposed the establishment of flight training organisations, MRO facilities, and dedicated air cargo infrastructure to handle regional logistics and perishable goods. Such diversification, he said, would generate new revenue sources for the airport and create significant employment opportunities for the local population. Identifying Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, Tirupati, Goa, and Mangaluru as priority destinations based on passenger demand and regional importance, the MP emphasised that Kalaburagi airport holds strategic importance in bridging regional connectivity gaps and facilitating socio-economic development in the Kalyana Karnataka region. With focused policy interventions and ministerial support, he said, the airport could emerge as a model for regional aviation growth and skill development.
