Belagavi: Inaugurating the upgraded Belagavi airport here on Thursday, Union Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju said that even before the airport was made fully functional, Indigo and Jet Airways have sent requests asking for slots. He said, Spice Jet too is considering connecting Belagavi with Chennai by having more flights between the two cities shortly.
Stating that Belagavi airport had tremendous growth potential, he said Indigo and Spice Jet were undecided about which all cities the two airlines would connect but were keen to have slots in the airport. “ Belagavi airport is certainly on a good wicket,” added Raju.
The Centre is willing to work with any state government which is keen on developing airports and having more flights. The Civil Aviation ministry has pumped in Rs 627 crore for development of airports in Karnataka Rs 144 crore in Belagavi, Rs 120.71 crore in Hubballi Rs 253.71 crore in Mangaluru and Rs 90 crore in Bengaluru, said the minister and lauded the initiative taken by the state government for acquiring land needed for airport development.
CM mum on naming airport after Rani Chennamma
Chief Minister Siddaramaiah was non-committal on naming the renovated Belagavi airport after Rani Chennamma of Kittur when several leaders, including Union Minister Ananth Kumar, and MP, Suresh Angadi suggested the idea at the inaugural function of the new-look airport here on Thursday.
Addressing the gathering, Mr Ananth Kumar appealed to the CM and Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ashok Gajapati Raju to name the airport after the legendary queen, recalling that the practice of naming airports after historic figures began when Mr Vajpayee was PM. He said the state cabinet should pass a resolution naming Belagavi airport after Rani Chennamma and send it to the Centre for approval.
Mr Suresh Angadi too recalled the contributions of Chennamma and urged the government to name the airport after her. But some leaders from Congress and BJP suggested naming the airport after Sangolli Rayanna.
