Airports in Tier-II cities are not financially viable after end of UDAN scheme: Karnataka Minister M.B. Patil
GS3Economy · S&T · Environment · Security· Infrastructure (energy, ports, roads, railways)· Prelims + Mains·
Why in news
Karnataka Minister M.B. Patil stated that Tier-II city airports like Kalaburagi and Bidar lack financial viability post-UDAN incentives and proposed a 50:50 Centre-State support model.
Background
The Karnataka government plans to model its aviation policy on Madhya Pradesh and Uttar Pradesh to ensure district airport viability. The Ballari airport project, proposed in 2010, currently faces land acquisition and site suitability hurdles.
Facts for Prelims
- SchemeUDAN: A scheme providing incentives to make regional airports financially viable.
- FactProposed extension of UDAN incentive period from three years to five years.
- FactProposed funding model for airport viability: 50:50 joint support from Centre and State governments.
- PlaceTier-II airports mentioned: Kalaburagi, Bidar, and Shivamogga in Karnataka.
For Mains
Q. Discuss the challenges in making regional aviation infrastructure financially sustainable in India and suggest a collaborative fiscal model between Centre and States.
Dimensions to cover in your answer
- Fiscal sustainability: High operational costs of low-load factor flights in Tier-II cities
- Federal cooperation: Need for synchronized aviation policies and shared funding models between State and Centre
- Land acquisition: Bottlenecks in site suitability and local land procurement for district airports
Keywords: Fiscal Viability · Regional Connectivity · Public-Private Partnership · Infrastructure Development · Federalism
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This note is generated automatically from SatyaDheesh's news feed and mapped to the UPSC CSE syllabus. Check facts against the original report or PIB before using them in an answer.