The Karnataka government is considering the development of a new airport in the Kalyana Karnataka region to serve the districts of Ballari, Vijayanagara and Koppal. Infrastructure Development Minister M. B. Patil informed the Legislative Council that a final decision on the location will be taken after discussions with Siddaramaiah and public representatives from the three districts.
The proposal to establish an airport in Ballari dates back to 2010, when nearly 900 acres of land were acquired and handed over to M/s Marg Sri Krishnadevaraya Airport Private Limited. However, the agreement was later cancelled after the company failed to commence construction within the stipulated period. The government has since invited tenders to appoint consultants to prepare a Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the project.
Authorities are now evaluating a centrally located site that can serve all three districts, as establishing separate airports may not be economically viable. The move also aims to ensure sustainable passenger traffic and avoid operational challenges faced by regional airports such as Kalaburagi Airport and Bidar Airport.
