Shimoga Airport: When Will Flights Take Off?

when will shimoga airport start operating

Shivamogga Airport, officially renamed Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport, is a domestic airport serving the city of Shimoga, Karnataka, India. The airport was built by the Airports Authority of India and was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 February 2023, with regular flight operations starting from 31 August 2023. The airport is expected to become international in the next two to three years.

Characteristics Values
Airport Name Shivamogga Airport, officially renamed as Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport
Location Sogane Village, 8.8 km from Shimoga, Karnataka, India
Status Operational as of 31 August 2023
Construction Start Date Phase I began in April 2011, but the project was relaunched in June 2020
Construction Cost Approximately ₹4.49 billion to ₹600 billion
Land Area 662.38 acres
Runway Length 3,200 metres, the longest in the state after Kempegowda International Airport
Aircraft Capacity Designed for Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 type aircraft
Passenger Capacity Can handle about 200-350 passengers during peak hours
Operator Run by the state government of Karnataka

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The airport was inaugurated in February 2023 and started operating in August 2023

The Shivamogga Airport, officially renamed the Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport, is a domestic airport serving the city of Shimoga in Karnataka, India. The airport was initially intended to be built under a public-private partnership, but due to delays, the contract was terminated in January 2015. After a failed start in the 2000s, the project was relaunched in June 2020 by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yediyurappa. The airport was built at a cost of around ₹600 crores, with ₹449 crores spent on infrastructure and the remaining on land acquisition.

The airport was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on 27 February 2023. It was named after Kuvempu, a renowned Kannada poet. The first phase of construction was completed, and the airport became operational on 31 August 2023, with regular flight operations to Bangalore operated by IndiGo. The airport is strategically located in Sogane Village, 8.8 km from Shimoga, and is designed to handle smaller aircraft, accommodating about 200 passengers during peak hours.

The airport is built on approximately 662 acres of land and boasts the second-longest runway in the state, at 3,200 metres. The Shivamogga Airport is designed to operate Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 aircraft, enhancing intrastate accessibility and connecting Shimoga to key domestic and international destinations through Bangalore. The airport is expected to become international within the next few years, as announced by Karnataka Chief Minister Basavraj Bommai.

The inauguration of the Shivamogga Airport was a significant development, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating that the airport will open new avenues for commerce, trade, agriculture, and industrialization in the region. The airport is the sixth destination for IndiGo in Karnataka and the ninth domestic airport in the state. The first flight to arrive at the airport was an IndiGo flight from Bengaluru's Kempe Gowda International Airport, carrying state ministers, former Chief Ministers, MPs, and other dignitaries.

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It is officially renamed Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport and is a domestic airport

The Shivamogga Airport, officially renamed as Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport (IATA: RQY, ICAO: VOSH), is a domestic airport serving the city of Shimoga, Karnataka, India. It is located at Sogane Village, 8.8 km (5.5 mi) from Shimoga and 8.2 km (5.1 mi) from Bhadravathi.

The airport was initially intended as a public-private partnership with the Government of Karnataka. However, due to delays in project execution, the contract was terminated in January 2015. Work on Phase I of the construction started in April 2011, but only a small section of the proposed 3,200-metre runway was completed before disagreements arose among the contractor's partners, leading to a halt in all work.

On 15 June 2020, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yediyurappa, laid the foundation stone to restart the project at a cost of ₹ 4.49-4.5 billion. The airport is being built in two phases, with the first phase inaugurated on 27 February 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The airport was built by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and commercial operations started on 31 August 2023, with regular flights to Bangalore operated by IndiGo.

Shivamogga Airport is designed to handle smaller aircraft and can accommodate about 200 passengers during peak hours. It will be an airport of international standards, with the longest runway in the state, at 3,200 metres, after Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore. The airport is designed to operate Boeing 737 and Airbus A320 type aircraft. The airport is named after Kuvempu, regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century.

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The airport is built on 662.38 acres of land and has the longest runway in the state

The Shivamogga Airport, officially renamed the Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport, is a domestic airport serving the city of Shimoga, Karnataka, India. The airport is built on 662.38 acres of land and has the longest runway in the state, measuring 3,200 metres. It is located in Sogane Village, 8.8 km from Shimoga and 8.2 km from Bhadravathi.

The airport was initially intended to be built under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the Government of Karnataka. However, due to delays and disagreements among the partners of the contractors, the contract was terminated in January 2015. On June 15, 2020, the Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yediyurappa, laid the foundation stone to restart the construction of the airport. The airport is being built at a cost of around ₹4.49 billion to ₹4.5 billion.

The airport is designed to handle smaller aircraft, such as the Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, and can accommodate about 200 to 350 passengers during peak hours. The first phase of construction began in April 2011, but only a small section of the runway was completed before work was halted. The first phase of the airport was finally inaugurated on February 27, 2023, by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and regular flight operations began on August 31, 2023.

The Shivamogga Airport is a significant development for the state of Karnataka, facilitating travel and connecting the city of Shimoga to other regions of the nation. It is expected to become an international airport within the next few years, further enhancing its importance and impact on the region's connectivity and economic growth.

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Shivamogga Airport is an under-construction greenfield project by AAI

The Shivamogga Airport, officially renamed the Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport, is a domestic airport serving the city of Shimoga, Karnataka, India. The Shivamogga Airport is an under-construction greenfield project by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

The airport was initially planned to be built under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) with the Government of Karnataka. However, due to delays, the contract was terminated in January 2015. The project was then relaunched in June 2020 by the Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yediyurappa, with a planned cost of ₹4.49-4.5 billion. The airport is being constructed in two phases, with the first phase inaugurated on 27 February 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The airport is named after Kuvempu, a renowned Kannada poet.

The Shivamogga Airport is located at Sogane, 8.8 km from Shimoga and 8.2 km from Bhadravathi. The project site covers approximately 662 acres of land, with a planned 3,200-metre runway, making it the longest in the state after the Kempegowda International Airport in Bangalore. The airport is designed to accommodate wide-body aircraft, including Boeing 737 and Airbus A320, and will be able to handle around 200-350 peak hour passengers.

The construction of the Shivamogga Airport has faced several challenges, including differences among contractors, which led to a halt in work in 2011. Despite these setbacks, the airport is now operational for commercial operations as of 2024, with regular flights to Bangalore operated by IndiGo. The airport features a unique lotus-shaped passenger terminal building, an aircraft apron, a singular runway, and car parking facilities.

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The airport will become international in the next 2-3 years, according to the Karnataka Chief Minister

The Shivamogga Airport in Karnataka, India, has had a long journey to becoming operational. The project was initially launched in the 2000s but faced several delays and setbacks due to "indifference and infighting" among promoters. However, the airport finally became a reality when the Chief Minister of Karnataka, B. S. Yediyurappa, relaunched it in June 2020. The airport was built at a cost of around ₹600 crores, with ₹449 crores spent on infrastructure and the rest on land acquisition. It was inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, 2023, and regular flight operations began on August 31, 2023, with IndiGo operating the first domestic flight to the airport.

Shivamogga Airport, officially renamed Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport, is a significant addition to the state of Karnataka. It is designed to handle smaller aircraft and can accommodate around 200 passengers during peak hours. The airport is built on approximately 662 acres of land and has the second-longest runway in the state, at 3,200 metres. It is strategically located in Sogane Village, just 8.8 km from Shimoga and 8.2 km from Bhadravathi, making it easily accessible.

While the airport is currently domestic, serving the city of Shimoga, the Karnataka Chief Minister, Basavraj Bommai, has announced plans for it to become international within the next 2-3 years. This upgrade will further enhance Shivamogga's connectivity to key domestic and international destinations, providing a boost to commerce, trade, agriculture, and industrialization in the region.

The development of the Shivamogga Airport is a testament to the state of Karnataka's progress and its ability to overcome challenges. With the airport now operational and serving the people of Shivamogga and the surrounding areas, the region is poised for greater economic growth and improved accessibility. The airport will not only facilitate travel within Karnataka but also connect the state to the rest of the country and the world in the coming years.

Frequently asked questions

The Shivamogga airport in Karnataka, India, started operating on August 31, 2023, with regular flight operations to Bangalore operated by IndiGo.

The airport is operational and is expected to become international in the next two to three years.

The official name of the airport is Rashtrakavi Kuvempu Airport (IATA: RQY, ICAO: VOSH). It is named after Kuvempu, regarded as the greatest Kannada poet of the 20th century.

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