Mysore Airport development plans on schedule

Land acquisition mostly over; 20 acres remaining

BY A CORRESPONDENT
March 3, 2006

The defunct Mysore Airport at Mandakalli is set for expansion. The revamped and modernized Mysore airport is likely to receive big birds flying in from Indian metros, once work is completed by 2007.

The existing airport at Mysore has not been functioning for some time. It used to host Dakotas in the past, but Dakota services ended, the airport practically shut down. The airport has around 300 acres in its possession.

For the expansion, about 174 more acres of land are needed. Out of this, the district administration has already acquired 154, while the land-owners of the rest have obtained a court stay against the rest of the land. The administration has handed over the acquired land to the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Board (KIADB), asking it to be handed over to the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Despite the stay on the last stretch of land, government officials feel the AAI can start work on the airport.

A part of the upgradation, the existing runway will be widened and improved, and the airport will also have three new hangars besides an administrative building. The state government expects that work on the airport can start as early as next month. The state government and the AAI have already signed into a memorandum of understanding to develop the airport.