Q: What’s the status on the Mysore Airport expansion project? I’m a real estate investor, and I’m interested in buying property in Mysore. I’m asking so that I can figure out how the Mysore infrastructure is at the moment, and what are the prospects for growth.
I had heard that about two months back the state infrastructure development ministry had decided to acquire 84 acres of extra land into this project. Its not so simple. The AAI also has claimed that the NH212 will need to be aligned properly. Currently the highway is cutting through the land needed for expanding the runway from 1780m to 3400m. So they need to change the path of the national highway so that it doesn’t interfere with the runway.
See the thing is that the Mysore airport was initially constructed to only cater to smaller aircrafts. To expand it, so that big planes can be accommodated, is going to require a massive land acquisition project to start off with. I think the authorities were just focussed on the Mysore-Najangud highway too much, and they kind of overlooked this project. That can be the only reason, because the necessary funds were all there. The Airport Authority of India (AAI) was sponsoring the phase two of the expansion process.
The Mysore Mandakalli airport has already been delayed long enough. I’m glad that finally at long last something substantial is happening here. See the thing is that we are expecting the aviation Minister Mr. G M Siddeshwara will be visiting Mysore sometime in the beginning of August. Actually he is visiting Mysore on the request of parliament member Pratap Simha. He is going to be discussing all the issues that have been deterring this project, and hopefully we will come to a proper solution, which will help us to move forward.