Hans News Service Bengaluru

InfrastructureDevelopment Minister M B Patil on Friday announced that flight services from Bengaluru to Bidar and Kalaburagi, the district headquarters of the Kalyana Karnataka region, will resume from June 1 and June 10 respectively.

Speaking on the occasion, he said that Star Air (Ghodawat Enterprises Limited) will operate flights on the Bengaluru–Bidar–Bengaluru and Bengaluru–Kalaburagi–Bengaluru sectors. The Government is extending viability gap funding of Rs 28.47 crore to support the operations. Advance booking for flights on both routes has already commenced, he added.

Patil said the flight service to Kalaburagi had earlier been suspended due to financial losses. In the case of Bidar, services were being operated with special support from the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board. Taking into account the growth of industries, education, tourism, agriculture and commercial activities in the Kalyana Karnataka region, the Government has decided to revive the services under the regional air connectivity initiative, he said.

The Minister said the Government is committed to enhancing air connectivity to Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities across the State. Such initiatives will not only accelerate regional economic growth but also contribute to infrastructure development, he noted.

It may be recalled that Patil had recently held several rounds of discussions with ministerial colleagues from the Kalyana Karnataka region and representatives of various airline companies regarding the resumption of flight services to Bidar and Kalaburagi.