K'taka govt inks agreement for regional airports

Bangalore, Apr 2 (UNI) Karnataka government today signed an agreement with a consortium of three companies for taking up of regional airports in Gulbarga and Shimoga.

Infrastructure Development Principal Secretary V P Baligar said that the agreement with Maytas Infra, NCC Infrastructure Holdings and Vienna Enterprises to develop and operate airports proposed at Gulbarga and Shimoga on BOT system.

"These would be green field projects under PPP framework at a cost of Rs 100 crore each in the next two years," he said.

The development of airports in these cities would eventually lead to airside and landside developments which would include construction and development of runway, terminal, ancillary buildings, and other infrastructure facilities, he said adding that the constriction period was 24 months from the date of signing the agreement and the concession period was 30 years.

Officials of Maytas said that many airlines including Kingfisher had shown interest in running their flights in these sectors.

The new airports would allow atleast three flights initially a day and ten flights after their completion, he said.

Two separate Special Purpose Companies would be set up for the purpose and with details of consortium partners and their share holding patterns with 37 per cent, 37 per cent and 26 per cent each.

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