Shift towers to facilitate bigger aircraft landing in Hubballi: MP
Hubballi : MP Pralhad Joshi has asked the district administration and the Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) to get the mobile towers shifted from the Hubballi airport approach space at the earliest so that bigger aircrafts could land in Hubballi.
Speaking after inaugurating the railway under-bridge constructed by the Railways at a cost of ` two crore, near Sainagar here on Monday, he said, at the Hubballi Airport, the runway expansion work has been completed, but two mobile towers are obstructing the approach to the runway, due to which big aircrafts like Air Bus 320 cannot land.
If these towers are removed, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) officials would conduct the inspection, and the Air India (AI) has assured to give connecting stop for its Bengaluru-Mumbai flight in Hubballi also, Mr Joshi said.
Mobile towers have not been shifted though the issue has been brought to the notice of deputy commissioner and district in-charge minister. The Corporators should make serious efforts to get those towers shifted, he advised.
At Sainagar, there is a demand for another under-bridge adjacent to the existing one. That can be done if the State Government or Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation (HDMC) can spend ` two crore. However, attempts would also be made to get 50 per cent cost sharing by the Central government, he assured.
AI plane for Hubballi
Mr Joshi said, the Air India (AI) will introduce Hubballi-Bengaluru service from July 20.
He stated that he spoke to AI chairman who informed that the AI flight would operate for three days a week. "The AI flight from Bengaluru will land at Hubballi Airport at 5:05 pm, and will leave for Bengaluru at 5:25 pm, for the time being," he said.
He also stated that attempts are being made to get landing slot at Mumbai airport, to start Hubballi-Mumbai air service by the AI.
For this purpose, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma has assured to hold a meeting of GVK operator of Mumbai airport and Airport Authority of India (AAI) officials next month, he said.
Road dvpt works
Mr Joshi said, the Union Government has sanctioned a record amount of money for road development works in the region including the twin cities. The Centre also agreed to contribute 75 per cent of land acquisition cost of road development works, he said, adding that Belekeri port development at a cost of ` 4,000 crore in the first phase would boost the growth in North Karnataka region.
Leader of Opposition in Legislative Assembly Jagadish Shettar stated that traffic survey is being conducted to prepare a plan to develop underpass or flyover at Channamma Circle and Jubilee Circle, for which ` 300 crore has been earmarked by the Union Government. The interim report of the traffic survey has found that one lakh vehicles pass through Channamma Circle every day, he said.
The State Government has submitted a proposal of ` 8,000 crore to the Centre for road development works. The Centre has asked to restrict the amount to ` 2,000 crore, and attempts would be made to include roads in the twin cities in that proposal.
Attempts would also be made to get upto ` 30 crore under the Central Road Fund to widen and upgrade Unkal Cross-Sainagar road, Mr Shettar added.
MLC Pradeep Shettar, Deputy Mayor Laxmi Uppar, corporators Ashwini Majjagi, Rajanna Koravi, Veeranna Savadi, Umesh Kaujageri, and others were present.
Later, Mr Shettar and Mr Joshi visited the underpass across the railway line at Lokappanahakkal, and stated that the road connectivity to the underpass would be developed soon, as the land acquisition has been completed.
Invitation for rly minister
Hubballi: MP Pralhad Joshi stated that Union Railway Minister Suresh Prabhu would be invited to lay the foundation stone for the construction of railway over-bridge at the railway gate on Gadag Road on the outskirts of the City, and to hold a meeting here regarding various railway-related projects in the region.
The estimated cost of the over-bridge on Gadag Road is ` 40 crore, with 50:50 cost sharing by Railways and State Government.
Though the project was proposed in 2008 itself, it was delayed due to confusion about cost sharing. Mr Prabhu would also be urged to take steps to speed up Hubballi-Chikjajur railway line doubling work, and to complete it by 2019, he said.
"Myself and Mr Shettar will meet Mr Prabhu this week itself," Mr Joshi added.