Do you know that popular quote, “catch flights, not feelings”? Well, it looks like the government of Karnataka is going all out to make sure that your travel dreams come true. Aviation Secretary, Pradeep Singh Kharola, has announced that Karnataka will get 5 new airports by 2021, making transportation and traveller so much easier. In fact, one of the airports is expected to be operational by this Republic day, Jan 26th itself. It’s time to make your travel plans to the South. Read on:
5 New Airports in Karnataka
At the recent Wings India Summit, organised by the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the aviation secretary said that Bengaluru has the potential to become the aviation capital of India. “We have airports in all directions of the State now. A couple of months ago, the Gulbarga (Kalaburagi) airport was made operational. Aviation has become an engine of economic growth,” the secretary said at the summit.
The first of the 5 airports is going to be operational on January 26th in Bidar, with the first flight taking off from Bidar to Bengaluru. Straying a little off-topic, if you are visiting Bengaluru, don’t forget to stop by and check out this zero waste juice bar at Malleswaram.
Over the next two years, the following 4 airports will also be operational: Vijayapura, Shivamogga, Karwar and Chikmagalur. The 5 new airports are all a part of the Centre’s UDAN scheme. . Personally, I’m really excited about the Chikmagalur airport. A lot of people love going for an offbeat holiday from Bangalore to Chikmagalur and this will majorly cut down on the 4 hour road trip to the latter. If you haven’t been to Chikmagalur yet, then do watch this video and book yourself on that flight to the brand new airport.
“We have operationalised nearly 40 airports in the last five years and the target in the next five years is to double the number of operational airports and helipads in the country,” the aviation secretary further said.