"Land Acquisition Commences for Expansion of Belagavi Airport"

The expansion of Belagavi Airport at Sambra has taken a significant step forward as the district administration initiates the acquisition process for an additional 57 acres of land. The airport underwent a substantial upgrade in 2017, which included the expansion of its runway and the inauguration of a new terminal by the then Civil Aviation Minister, P Ashok Gajapathi Raju. The state government had allocated 370 acres of land for the initial upgrade, with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) investing Rs. 141.4 crore to accommodate larger aircraft.

Recognizing the continued growth potential of the airport, AAI has embarked on a second-phase expansion that encompasses both the runway and the terminal. The proposed acquisition of an extra 57 acres of land aims to facilitate this expansion. Recently, district in-charge minister Satish Jarkiholi and women and child welfare minister Laxmi Hebbalkar, accompanied by officials, visited the site to inspect the area and review the blueprint of the airport expansion project.

During discussions, Minister Hebbalkar expressed concerns about land acquisition without the consent of the affected farmers, who had already contributed a significant amount of land for the airport. She instructed officials to obtain the land only after securing the farmers' agreement, taking into account market values.

In response to these considerations, Deputy Commissioner Nitesh Patil convened a special meeting with relevant officials, joined by Airport Director Tyagarajan. The Deputy Commissioner assured the swift handover of the 57 acres of land to AAI, emphasizing that it would exclusively be for the expansion of the runway and terminal. He stressed the importance of AAI providing a comprehensive blueprint of the project and its utilization before the land transfer.

Regarding a previously allocated 14 acres of land under the possession of the Airforce, Patil urged both authorities to collaboratively decide on its usage through mutual discussion. Airport Director Tyagarajan shared that AAI has earmarked a grant of Rs 229.5 crore for the construction of the new terminal building and associated works. The upgraded terminal is anticipated to cover an extensive area of 20,000 sqmt, marking a substantial enhancement for Belagavi Airport's facilities.

ET