₹146.89 crore utilised for running seven Tier-II airports in Karnataka under UDAN scheme

Seven airports in Karnataka have been operationalised under the Regional Connectivity Scheme — Ude Desh ka Aam Nagrik (RCS-UDAN) and ₹146.89 crore is the expenditure incurred for operating these airports.

The seven airports are Bidar, Mysuru, Vidyanagar, Hubbali, Kalaburagi, Belagavi, and Shivamogga.

As per information by Minister of State for Civil Aviation Murlidhar Mohol to a question in the Rajya Sabha during the ongoing budget session of Parliament, ₹146.89 crore has been utilised under the UDAN scheme till October 31, 2025.

Of the ₹146.89 crore, the expenditure incurred on the Mysuru airport was ₹41.40 crore followed by ₹37.69 crore on the Hubbali airport, ₹28.64 crore on the Kalaburgi airport, ₹20.88 crore on the Belagavi airport, ₹12.29 crore on the Bidar airport and ₹5.99 crore on the Vidyanagar airport.

The Shivamogga airport is operated directly by the State government through Karnataka State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC),

A total of 118 RCS routes have been operationalised from these seven airports with Mysuru and Vidyanagar being the first to start flights in 2017, followed by Hubballi airport in 2018, Belagavi and Kalaburgi in 2019, Bidar in 2020 and Shivamogga in 2023.

No operation at Kalaburagi

Among these, Kalaburgi has stopped flight operations, Bidar and Vidyanagar airports which had also temporarily closed have resumed services.

Mr. Mohol in his reply said that the Kalaburagi airport will be considered in forthcoming rounds of bidding.

“Regarding commencement of operations from Kalaburagi, it is submitted that the airport will be considered in forthcoming rounds of bidding in accordance with the provisions of the UDAN Scheme,” he said.

Not viable

Industry and Infrastructure Development Minister M. B. Patil recently said in the Legislative Assembly that the airports in Tier-II cities and district headquarters have proved to be not financially viable after the end of the UDAN scheme.

To improve the viability of district airports, Mr. Patil said he had proposed to the Union Civil Aviation Minister that the UDAN scheme be extended from three years to five years. He added that for the subsequent five years, the Centre and the State governments could jointly support operations in a 50:50 ratio.

New domestic terminal

To another question in the Rajya Sabha on aviation infrastructure projects undertaken in Karnataka, Mr. Mohol said at the Hubballi and Belagavi airport, construction of a new domestic terminal building along with extension and reconfiguration of apron bays for Code “C” type aircraft, including allied infrastructure, is being undertaken.