The Karnataka government’s plans to start civilian operations at the Bidar airport (now controlled by the Indian Air Force) is likely to be delayed further as GMR Infrastructure Ltd, which operates the neighbouring airport in Hyderabad, about 140 kms from Bidar, is yet to withdraw its objections.
GMR Infrastructure had taken exception to the operation of the Bidar civilian airport. The terminal building was ready and the state government had obtained clearance from the Civil Aviation Ministry and the Defence Ministry to use the runway and other facilities at the Indian Air Force station on the outskirts of Bidar.
The state government has even acquired nearly 120 acres of land and constructed the new terminal building at a cost of Rs10 crore.
As per the concession agreement signed by GMR with the Centre, no new airport can be built within a 150 km radius from the Hyderabad international airport at Shamshabad. While the airport at Bidar was built much before the Hyderabad international airport came up, Karnataka now wants to modernise it with new facilities.
A senior official in the state infrastructure development department said the government had offered to hand over the operations of Bidar airport to GMR. But the company has not accepted nor was ready to even share profits with the government. “Once the company gives the no-objection for us to start operations, we can approach the Airports Authority of India to give us permission to start,” the official said.
Bidar airport can be used to connect to North India and into Hyderabad and can be a feeder airport to Hyderabad. The airport is expected to handle 40,000 passengers per year compared to the Hyderabad airport’s estimated passenger handling of 12 million per year.
Aniruddha Ganguly, EVP & Group Head - Business Integration, GMR Group told Business Standard, “We have protection for 150 kms radius from Hyderabad international airport as per the concession agreement. The objective of Karnataka government is to modernise Bidar airport. The government has approached GMR Group for no objection. We are not against the government opening the Bidar airport. But, they have to wait for some time for us to give no objection.”
He, however, did not give any time frame when the company would give its clearance.
Sometime ago, the chief minister B S Yeddyurappa had said that the state government was committed to starting the airport in Bidar and had taken up the issue with the Civil Aviation ministry to persuade the GMR Group officials to take back their objection to start the facility here.
Yeddyurappa said he supported the need for developing the historically important Bidar district as one of the tourist destinations in north Karnataka. Presently, the IAF is operating the Bidar airport to train its fighter pilots.
