The Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Karnataka government are expected to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) later this month for the much-awaited upgradation of Hubli airport.
According to sources, the MoU will be signed during the visit of AAI chairman VP Agarwal and Union civil aviation ministry joint secretary KN Shrivatsa on January 23.
After acquiring around 600 acres of land required for the airport expansion, utility shifting was an important issue. To resolve the issue, the Airport Advisory Committee headed by MP Pralhad Joshi has decided to urge the state to provide Rs 11crore, as the AAI has denied to bear this cost. The meeting of the committee was held recently to discuss various issues related to the airport upgradation and decided to fix the time frame to complete the utility shifting on January23.
After the meeting, Joshi told the media that the AAI had already approved the proposal to construct the airport compound wall at a cost of Rs 7 crore, and Rs 169 crore proposal for runway expansion is awaiting the approval of the AAI board of management.
“We will try to get the MoU signed on January23 itself,” he said. After relocating the road, pipeline and electric poles, the AAI would get the land ready for the airport expansion. According to the plan, the existing 1,674-metre-long runway would be extended to 2,600 metres and its width would be increased from 30 metres to 45 metres in the first phase.
After the approval,this work could be completed in two years, so that Boeing aircraft could be landed.
“About Rs 11 crore is needed for utility shifting, including Rs 7.5crore for water pipeline and crematorium relocation and Rs 2.65 crore for shifting electric poles and lines. The state government would be urged to provide this amount through the Infrastructure Development department,” Joshi noted. A proposal regarding the construction of new terminal at the airport has already been submitted to the AAI.
The NOC from the AAI is required for the construction of high-rise buildings and installation of towers within the 10 km radius from the airport, he said.
HDMC (Hubli-Dharwad Municipal Corporation) commissioner YS Patil stated the crematorium near the airport would be shifted to four acres of land near Gokul village, and Tarihal road would be shifted to the newly-developed double road.
The meeting could not find out which authority permitted the installation of four mobile towers which are in the approach funnel of the airport. Deputy commissioner Sameer Shukla instructed the HDMC commissioner to co-ordinate with the HDUDA commissioner regarding the validity of the towers and to find ways to shift them.
