Feasibility report on second airport after consultations with AAI: CM Siddaramaiah in budget speech

BENGALURU: A second airport will be developed in Bengaluru to decongest Kempegowda International Airport, which has emerged as the country’s third largest airport. A feasibility report will be prepared after obtaining technical advice from Airports Authority of India (AAI), Chief Minister Siddaramaiah announced in the Budget on Friday.

The state government has released Rs. 1,593 crore of grants for development of seven domestic airports in the state so far. For the current year Rs 200 crore has been earmarked. Flight training school and manufacturing/assembly of aircraft activities on PPP mode will be undertaken in premises of Vijaypura and Shivamogga airports respectively, he noted.

Nine railway routes are being implemented on 50:50 cost sharing basis with the Ministry of Railways. An expenditure of Rs. 2,950 crore has been incurred towards land acquisition and Rs. 2,682 crore has been spent on construction works. In the budget for 2026-27, Rs 600 crore has been earmarked for this purpose

Land acquisition for the Benniganahalli-Chikkabanavara corridor under the Bengaluru Suburban Railway Project has been completed, and construction works are in progress. Land acquisition for the Heelalige-Rajanukunte corridor is under way and it is targeted to complete the works in both corridors by December 2030. For the current year, Rs 500 crore has been allocated to these works.

The Baiyappanahalli-Hosur and Yeshwanthpur-Channasandra line doubling project is being undertaken at a total cost of Rs. 812 crore, with the state government share of Rs 406 crores. Doubling works over a stretch of 14 km have already been dedicated to public service. A provision of Rs 100 crore has been allocated for the current year.

At Tadadi in Uttara Kannada district, environmental-friendly accommodation facility, walking corridors, tourism information centers and other infrastructure facilities will be developed on PPP model.

A ‘Comprehensive Coastal Tourism Development Plan’ will be prepared to harness this unique tourism opportunities. Connectivity to tourist locations of this area will be increased through seaplane and heli-taxi facilities in collaboration with stakeholders. Joy ride and river cruise schemes also will be encouraged.

“To ensure pleasant and positive experience to all tourists visiting our state, Rs 1 crore will be spent to train tourist guides, taxi drivers, auto drivers and security police staff. Soft skill training courses will be developed to increase enhance the professionalism of these major stakeholders. Diploma courses will be started in selected universities to provide soft skill training to the tourist guides”, the CM said.

The Gadag-Kappatagudda-Lakkundi tourism circuit will be developed. A ropeway will be constructed in PPP mode, connecting tourist locations of Mullayangiri, Seethalayyagiri and Kaimara in Chikmagalur district to develop the tourism sector in the region. Funds of Rs 10 crore will be provided for the remaining infrastructure development of Karnataka Exhibition Authority in Mysuru.

One thousand ‘smaraka mitras’ will be identified, trained and accredited by the Tourism department with an aim to protect the 844 protected monuments and 1,000 unprotected monuments in the State. “Our government has prepared comprehensive plan to develop Anjanadri Hill as a world famous tourist destination at cost of Rs 100 crore. After obtaining necessary forest and environment clearances from the Government of India and concurrence from UNESCO, the remaining development works will be completed on a priority basis”, Siddaramaiah said.

A ‘Comprehensive Multimodal Logistics Policy’ will be formulated for development of Ports and Cargo Transport Zones. ‘Karnataka State Offshore Resources Development & Utilization Policy’ will be formulated for optimum utilization of opportunities in cage culture fishing and renewable energy generation.