Belagavi: The Belagavi airport where airline companies are reluctantly operating flights for the past one decade is all set to be upgraded to a bigger airport. With the Environment Ministry giving the green signal for airport upgradation, an estimated Rs 293 crore will be spent on a series of works to be taken up for its development.
To develop one of the oldest airports in the country, the Centre had decided during the tenure of late Indira Gandhi as PM to develop it into an international airport. However, the proposal was put on the backburner as few people depend on flights from Belagavi.
More than 798 acres of land has been acquired by the government for airport upgradation in and around Sambra village, on the city’s outskirts. The airport will have most facilities on par with any other international airport besides space for parking of 26 aircraft.
The major works include increasing the runway length and construction of a high-tech terminal building. The existing runway of 1830 mts will be extended up to 2300 mts, according to sources. An estimated Rs 38 crore will be spent on the terminal while Rs 141 crore will be spent on the taxiway, apron and other minor work.
