From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network

Bengaluru, Jun 15: Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa flagged off the work on construction of the airport in his home district of Shivamogga on Monday June 15.

The Chief Minister flagged off the work through video conferencing from his home office in Bengaluru.

Yediyurappa hoped that the long-standing demand of the people of the district and surrounding regions for a full-fledged airport would usher in the development of the entire region, especially in the tourism and industrial sectors.

The airport is being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 220 crore in a 662.38 acre plot in Sogane village of Shivamogga district. The work is being carried out in two phases with the first phase expected to be completed within a year, he said.

Under the first phase of the construction of the airport, work on laying the runway, taxiway, apron, approach road and peripheral road as well as compound walls will be taken up while the second phase will involve construction of the terminal building, air traffic control tower, fire station building and other facilities.’

The Chief Minister asked the officials to ensure that there should not be any compromise in the quality aspect as it should serve for longer period. The airport when constructed will facilitate people of the region and even common people to avail of the Udan facility for air travel, he said.

Yediyurappa, also declared open the new Divisional Headquarters office building for the National Highway Authority of India in Shivamogga, and said work on construction of roads, highways and bridges will get expedited with the start of the Divisional office as higher officials will be available.

He also mentioned that building a bridge for the backwaters of Sharavathi river has been taken up at Sigandur, fulfilling the long-standing demand of the people.

The Chief Minister said several developmental works including irrigation project, infrastructure facilities in schools, drinking water, roads and communication were under implementation. The Smart City project is being expedited and the Shivamogga-Shikaripur railway work was also under progress, he said.

Deputy Chief Minister Govind M Karjol, who is also handling the Public Works Department, said the commencement of the work on construction of the airport in Shivamogga was a historical step. The opening of the Divisional Office of the National Highway Authority was another feather in the pace of development of the entire region, he said.

Chief Minister’s Political Secretary Shankaragowda Patil, Public Works Department Additional Chief Secretary Rajneesh Goel, Infrastructure Department Principal Secretary Kapil Mohan and others were present at the function in Bengaluru.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa, who is also the district in charge minister for Shivamogga, was the chief guest at the function held in Shivamogga simultaneously.

He felt the series of developmental works and the completion of the airport would hasten the development and growth of the region besides providing more employment opportunities for youth.

Chief Minister’s son B Y Raghavendra, MLCs Ayanur Manjunath, Prasanna Kumar, MLAs Araga Jnanendra, Ashok Naik, Kumar Bangarappa, Hartalu Halappa, Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat president Jyothi S Kumar and Mayor Suvarna Shankar attended the function. Deputy Commissioner K B Shivakumar welcomed.