G.R. Gopinath

BANGALORE: G.R. Gopinath, managing director of Deccan Aviation, which operates the country's second largest airliner in terms of market share, Air Deccan, believes that States can pioneer the next wave of the aviation revolution if they build low-cost airports in major towns.

A typical low-cost airport with no frills can be built at an approximate cost of Rs. 16 crore, excluding the cost of land, he points out.

Speaking to The Hindu here on Friday, he argued that equitable growth could be achieved only through air connectivity, though one could not hope to match the economies of scale, say at airports in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata or Bangalore, at the district level.

Air connectivity is fundamental for economic growth without which districts cannot be brought on a par with the State capital, says Capt. Gopinath. The time has come to develop other towns in Karnataka, now that Bangalore is getting overcrowded.

A typical low-cost airport should be all-weather, functional with regard to safety and reliability and have night-landing facility.

The airport need not have any frills such as a glitzy building.

A low-cost airport with a 4,500 ft by 80 ft runway, a 300 ft by 80 ft taxiway, a 300 ft by 200 ft apron for two aircraft, an Air Traffic Control tower, a windsock, communication equipment, night-landing instruments and a passenger terminal can be built at Rs. 16 crore. This excludes the cost of around 70 acres of land required, says Capt. Gopinath.

According to him, the Government will not be financially burdened to build such airports. It can form industrial and information technology (IT) parks in the vicinity of these airports.

Besides attracting a good number of industries and IT firms, the Government can realise the investment made on the airport by selling plots in the parks, he says.

An Air Deccan team has already spoken to representatives of the Andhra Pradesh Government about the concept, and that State is keen on building low-cost airports near Adilabad, Nellur and Khammam.

Capt. Gopinath will soon meet Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa and make a presentation on the benefits of low-cost airports.

The Government could build such airports at Bellary, Gulbarga, Bidar, Bijapur, Hassan, Shimoga and Karwar to begin with, he suggests. If the Government builds the airports, Deccan Aviation commits itself to operate daily flights to these places, he says. Apart from advancing industrial growth, these airports will give a boost to tourism in the region.

The Government can also consider developing bush/gravel strips in each district headquarters city at a cost of Rs. 3 crore. Such strips will help in disaster management, mobilisation of troops, VIP movement and operation of chartered flights for tourism and industrial purposes, he says.

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