REGIONAL AIRPORTS IN KARNATAKA

Fifteen unserved airstrips in Karnataka have found a place in the list of 394 facilities across the country that could opt for the regional connectivity scheme. In South India, Karnataka has the highest number of unserved airstrips 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, Hassan, Jakur, Kolar, Mysuru, Raichur, Shahbad, Vidyanagar, Yadgir and Yelahanka. 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. The states will have to give sops such as reducing VAT on ATF. The Central Government wants the state governments to reduce VAT on aviation turbine fuel to one per cent or less at such airports or airstrips for 10 years. Also, it could give land free of cost and the process of the development of airports would be devoid of encumbrances.