SMOOTH TRANSFER: Deputy General Manager (Civil) of the AAI M.N.N. Rao (left) receiving documents related to land for the airport project from Deputy Commissioner Selva Kumar (right) at a function held at Mandakalli near Mysore on Thursday. Mysore MP C.H. Vijayshankar (third from right) is seen. — PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

MYSORE: The Airports Authority of India (AAI) took possession of 154 acres of land at Mandakalli near here on Thursday and announced that the work on upgrading the airport would begin in October.

At a function at the Mandakalli airport, Deputy Commissioner Selva Kumar handed over documents pertaining to the land to AAI's Deputy General Manager (Civil) M.N.N. Rao.

Though the AAI sought 174 acres for the airport project, the acquisition of 20 acres of land has been held up owing to litigation. But Mr. Selva Kumar promised to hand over the land soon after the court delivered its verdict on the case, which is expected to come in about a month.

Work

Mr. Rao told presspersons that the work on upgrading the airport would be launched next month at a cost of Rs. 70 crore. The upgraded airport would be ready for flight operation in two years, connecting Mysore with Chennai, Hyderabad, Mumbai and Kolkota, besides Bangalore.

He said that tenders invited for various works were under scrutiny.

The work included construction of two runways and terminal buildings. The airport would have night-landing facilities, he said.

Two runways

Though the airport would have two runways, only 60 to 70-seater ATR aircraft would be operated.

Mr. Rao said that he had requested the Deputy Commissioner to provide a separate electricity line to the project. The existing electricity line was part of the network providing supply to rural areas.

With rural areas receiving electricity for barely a couple of hours every day, Mr Rao said, he had requested the authorities to ensure regular supply of power to the project site.

Interest

With the AAI evincing keen interest in taking up the construction of a full-fledged airport, the district administration had been asked to acquire an additional 95 acres.

Mr. Selva Kumar said that a notification had been issued for acquisition of 95 acres.

First phase

However, in the first phase, the airport would only be upgraded and equipped to operate 60 to 70-seater ATR aircraft.

Mysore MP C.H. Vijayshankar said that the decision of the Airports Authority of India to take possession of 154 acres would pave the way for operating flights from Mysore.

Mr. Vijayshankar expressed the hope that the doubling of the railway track between Mysore and Bangalore would materialise soon.

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