Daijiworld Media Network - Gulbarga (SP)

Gulbarga, Jun 16: Addressing people after laying the foundation stone for the proposed Gulbarga airport in Srinivas Saradagi village in the outskirts of Gulbarga, chief minister B S Yeddyurappa hoped, that setting up of airports across the state will result in scattering of the industrial development all over the state, besides giving fillip to tourism industry. This will also eradicate regional imbalance, he said.

Foreign tourists could not so far explore the tourist spots in the state because of poor air connectivity. Henceforth, tourists will visit the state once the airports become operational. We will provide all the infrastructures needed to ensure facilities to the tourists. The four proposed airports at Shimoga, Gulbarga, Hassan and Bijapur will be built on public-private partnership. We will commence commercial air traffic operations in Bidar and revive Mysore and Karwar airports. Hubli, Belgaum and Mangalore are also undergoing thorough revamp, the chief minister said. He expressed confidence, that Gulbarga airport will become operational within the next two years.

The first priority of the government will be irrigation, power, roads and agriculture. Karnataka Road Development Corporation Ltd will soon take up upgradation of the existing inter state highway to Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra that pass through Gulbarga, he added.

Revenue minister G Karunakar Reddy, tourism minister G Janardan Reddy and animal husbandry minister Revu Naik Belamagi who accompanied the chief minister, addressed the gathering. Several other state ministers and legislators graced the ceremony.