The Mysore Mandakalli Airport will become operational by September 15 just before the Dasara, commencing on September 18, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa said in Mysore yesterday.
Shimoga and Gulbarga airports will also become operational this year airlinking the tourist places in the three districts and its surroundings, he said after reviewing the progress of Mandakalli airport upgradation work.
However, doubting Thomases still wonder if the Mandakalli airport can take off before the Dasara as some works are pending and flight operations need safety clearances. Mysore MP H Viswanath, who attended the review meeting, wondered if the authorities would be able to meet the guidelines of the Airport of Authority of India (AAI) before the chief minister’s deadline.
During his one-day visit to fulfil a number of engagements, the chief minister asked the AAI officials to bring to his attention obstacles if their still exists for making the airport operational before Dasara so that he could take them up with the Centre. He was told that 90 per cent of the major works relating to water and power supply, alternate road to the affected villages and blocking of the entry points at the airport and police security were completed. The remaining 10 per cent would be completed before September 15. Yeddyurappa promised that the state government would meet its commitments by mid-August.
AAI’s air traffic management general manager N Vishwanath promised the chief minister that all works would be completed by September 15.
The first phase of the Rs 70 crore project on the frequently promised and the much-delayed airport began after a MoU between the Karnataka Government and the AAI in October 2005 and initial transfer of 154.22 acres on the Mysore-Nanjangud Road by the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board.
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However, one or the other obstacle has delayed the works and some more works need to be completed before making the old airstrip, a gift of the former rulers where Dakotas landed with dignitaries and tourists, to become operational and place Mysore on the country’s aviation map.
The then MP C H Vijayashankar had promised that the first phase would be completed in 20 months to make the 175-acre airport operational for 75-seater ATR aircraft initially before the 2008 Dasara, but this failed to materialise.
Even if it becomes operational by mid-September, the Mandakalli airport can accommodate smaller craft and has to wait for Boeings to land on the expanded second phase covering another 100 acres.
The chief minister told reporters that a five-day special session of the State Assembly would be convened during September second week for debate on rural development and allegations of scandals being raised by the opposition.
The state government would spend Rs 50 crore for the welfare of retired employees and explore ways to avail their services, he said and asked the Government employees not to press for more benefits considering the present financial status of the Government, though it had an open mind on their demands.