Centre moots plan to spur air connectivity to smaller cities

In an effort to give a fillip to the development of smaller airports in the country, the Union ministry of civil aviation has mooted the concept of 'Incentive DEstinations' .

Under the concept, it proposes to encourage airlines to operate flights to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in the country. In Karnataka, the ministry has proposed to include Hubli, Belgaum and Mysore under the plan given their potential for growth.

Under the plan, flight service providers would be offered subsidies that would bring down the operational costs and other expenses, making the services affordable for passengers and viable to service providers. The minister said he was keen on having an airport in his home district of Davanagere. But, acquiring land was the problem. If the state government provides the land, then I can take up the proposals, he said.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had earlier expressed his keenness to provide air connectivity to all Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities in the country.

Siddheshwar who visited Hubli airport recently, said, the cities having economic potential have been chosen for the project and of the 50 cities, five are in Karnataka. Gulbarga, Hassan, Shimoga, Bellary and Bijapur figure in the list. Technical and administrative problems with regard to developing these airports would be sorted out in coordination with the state government, he said.

The minister held a review meeting with officials from the Airports Authority of India, Dharwad district administration, Hescom, and Karnataka Urban Water Supply and Drainage Board at Hubli airport.