A file photograph of the under-construction Hassan airport at Boovanahalli close to Hassan. , Photograph Credit score: SATHISH GT
The demand for the development of an airport in Hassan, about 190 kilometers from Bengaluru, has an extended historical past of over seven many years. Nonetheless, the work has progressed at a snail’s tempo, although the land acquisition started as early as 1966. The precise work on the bottom started in 2021, and has proven hardly any progress within the final two years.
Throughout the legislative meeting session held in Belagavi in December 2023, Minister for Infrastructure Improvement MB Patil, in response to a query from Hassan MLA Swaroop Prakash, said that the undertaking can be accomplished by 2024-25. Giving a standing replace of the undertaking, he had mentioned then that the undertaking had been taken up at an estimated value of ₹193.65 crore and ₹164.47 crore had been launched.
Two years since, there’s little progress. In his newest reply to a query raised by former minister HD Revanna, who represents Holenarasipur, on Friday (December 12, 2025), Mr. MB Patil nearly repeated the identical reply he gave two years in the past.
Responding to the query on the precise standing of the undertaking, the minister said, “Up to now ₹193.6 crore had been launched, and of that ₹169.73 crore had been spent.” In different phrases, within the final two years round ₹5 crore had been spent.
The work on runway for the Hassan airport. , Photograph Credit score: PRAKASH HASSAN
In Nineteen Sixties
The primary proposal for the airport in Hassan was ready by the Central Public Works Division in 1960. The Assistant Commissioner of Hassan acquired about 31 acres and 31 guntas of personal land and one other 58 acres of presidency land for the undertaking in November 1966. Within the second section, one other 12 acres of personal land and 42 acres of presidency land had been acquired in 1971.
Nonetheless, the undertaking didn’t see progress for many years.
The undertaking acquired consideration in the course of the JD(S)-BJP alliance, headed by HD Kumaraswamy. Former Prime Minister and JD(S) supremo HD Deve Gowda laid the muse stone for the development in 2007. The federal government had signed an settlement with Jupiter Aviation Companies Pvt Ltd for the development of Hassan Greenfield Cargo Airfield undertaking on the build-own-operate-transfer (BOOT) mannequin. Throughout the identical time, the work on Shivamogga Airport was additionally initiated, and it has been operational since 2023,
Settlement canceled
Nonetheless, the Hassan Airport work didn’t see any motion. The undertaking proponent had deliberate actions, together with golf course and a lodge, and refused to begin the work till the overall land of 960 acres required for the undertaking was handed over. Nonetheless, the settlement with the personal agency was canceled when the JD(S) got here to energy once more with the Congress in 2018.
When BS Yediyurappa grew to become the Chief Minister, he introduced ₹175 crore for the airport in his finances in 2021. Karnataka State Industrial Infrastructure Improvement Company (KSIIDC) was the undertaking implementing company and Ibrahim Sharief, a contractor from Tirthahalli, bagged the development work.
Mr. MB Patil, in his written reply to an unstarred query, which was not taken for dialogue within the Home, said that the work on the runway, taxiway, apron, passenger terminal constructing, and air site visitors management constructing had been beneath progress. Nonetheless, he has not talked about by when the undertaking can be accomplished.
Printed – December 14, 2025 04:21 pm IST