K'taka govt to construct 20 permanent helipads

Mangalore, Mar 6 (UNI) In view of the increased tourists inflow to Karnataka and growth in the aviation sector, the state government has decided to construct 20 permanent helipads at a total cost of Rs two crore, Infrastructure Development Principal Secretary V P Baligar said today.

Addressing members of the Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) on 'Infrastructure Plan for Coastal Karnataka', he said the helipads would come up in Dharmastala, Kollur, Udupi, Hampi, Badami, Belur, Chikmagalur, Madikeri, Jog, Bijapur, Gadag, Bellary, Raichur, Horanadu, Chitradurga, Hassan, Bangalore South, Bangalore Electronic City, Bangalore Peenya and Shikaripur.

The helipads, to be maintained by the district administration, could also be used by private parties engaged in tourism activities, he added.

Mr Baligar said the state government had come out with a draft policy on infrastructure development, which would be finalised in two months after holding discussions with various stakeholders.

He said with tremendous growth in the aviation sector, there was a need to expand airports in the state, including Bangalore international airport and Bajpe airport near here. The government was ready to provide funds to acquire lands and rehabilitate the displaced.

Mr Baligar said the total cost of the international airport at Devanahalli near Bangalore had gone up to Rs 19,000 crore from the estimated Rs 14,000 crore. The state government had released Rs ten crore towards compensation to those who lost land to take up expansion of Bajpe airport and Rs two crore would be released soon.

He said as the existing 8,000 feet runway could not facilitate the landing of big flights like Jumbo Jets, it had to be expanded further. The new arrival terminal and taxibay at Bajpe airport were nearing completion. The Gulf Airlines was willing to start flight service to Mangalore.

The Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd had taken up Mysore-Mangalore road project and Chief Minister H D Kumaraswamy would lay the foundation stone for work between Kushalnagar and Sampaje tomorrow, he said.

Earlier, KCCI President John Prasad Menezes submitted a ten-point charter of demands to Mr Baligar.

UNI