Shimoga Airport

Shivamogga Airport is an under-construction greenfield airport being built at Sogane, located from Shivamogga and from Bhadravathi in Karnataka, India. The airport was to be built under Public–private partnership (PPP) with the Government of Karnataka. However, due to delays in project execution, the contract was terminated in January 2015. On 15 June 2020, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yediyurappa, laid the foundation stone to start the construction of the airport at the cost of ₹ 450 crore. The airport, to be constructed in two phases, will be completed in January 2023.

History

A team of experts from Airports Authority of India visited the two identified sites at Sogane near Shimoga and Nagarabavi Village near Ayanur on 4 April 2006. Of the two sites inspected by the AAI team, the one at Sogane was found most suitable due to its wind direction and velocity conditions. The only concern was that the land was uneven and needed to be levelled. The other site near Ayanur was found inadequate in width for the runway of the proposed airport

Nineteen companies, had shown interest in developing the airport when the Government had called for an Expression of Interest (EoI) to develop airports in Gulbarga, Bijapur and Shivamogga. The project was awarded to a consortium of Maytas Infra Ltd), NCC Infrastructure Holdings Ltd (NCC) and VIE India Project Development and Holding on 15 November 2007, on a BOT basis. Concession period was to be 30 years, to be extended for a further period of 30 years, by Mutual Agreement.

Shivamogga Airport Developers Pvt Ltd (SADPL), a Special Purpose Company, was established to sign the Project Development Agreement (PDA) with the Infrastructure Development Department (IDD) of the Government of Karnataka. The Shareholding pattern of Maytas Infra, NCC and VIE was 37%, 37% and 26% respectively in SADPL. The project development agreement was signed on 2 April 2008.

The foundation stone for the Phase I construction was laid by former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri B. S. Yeddyurappa on 20 June 2008. Due to a change in the project shareholding ratio, a Supplementary Development Agreement was signed on 21 December 2010. Bengaluru-based company Regional Airport-Holdings International Limited (RAHI) acquired 22% in the project and overall management and financial control.

In January 2015, the government decided to annul the land allotment for Shivamogga airport because of “indifference and infighting” among the promoters. As no construction work had begun at the Shivamogga airport, the government plans to re-tender the project.

On 15 June 2020, Karnataka CM B. S. Yeddyurappa relaunched the long pending airport project in Shivamogga. The airport will be built at the cost of ₹220 crore in about 662.38 acre land area has been initiated earlier at Sogane, It will be built as a part of the UDAN scheme.

Land acquisition and lease

The government had acquired 662.38 acres of land, and 58.3 million released for acquisition and development. Compensation for farmers given, for private land 600,000 for an acre of dry land and 700,000 for an acre of wetland, and for farmers using government land 200,000 per acre. About 130 acres of private land and 530 acres of government land acquired for the project. Families living in the affected area were provided monetary compensation and alternate housing.

The Land Lease Deed signed on 21 December 2010 commits the lessee to the rent 20,232 per acre annually to the GoK (13.4 million). The lease rent will increase by 10% every three years during the lease period.

Construction

Work on Phase I of the construction started on April 2011. However, out of the proposed 3,200 metre runway, only the work of levelling a 0.5-km stretch with boulders and concrete mixture was completed. After this, differences cropped up between the partners of the contractor and all work on the project was stopped.

On 15 June 2020, the Chief Minister of Karnataka B. S. Yeddyurappa relaunched the airport project. The airport is being at a cost of ₹ 220 crore, in about 662 acres of land area. It will be built as a part of the UDAN scheme.

The airport would have the longest runway of 3,200 metres after Kempegowda International Airport at Bengaluru. It would be an airport or international standards where widebody aircraft could land.

The airport is designed to operate ATR-72 type aircraft, with a seating capacity of 70 passengers, and can handle about 200 peak hour passengers. In the future, the airport will be expanded to operate higher types of aircraft like Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 type aircraft, based on the future demand. The project will be taken up in two phases. It was expected to be completed by 2022, but it is now confirmed to be completed in January 2023.

See also

* List of airports in Karnataka

References

External links

{{Airports in India

Airports in Karnataka
Proposed airports in Karnataka
Shimoga
Buildings and structures in Shimoga district
Transport in Shimoga district