Karnataka Cabinet Clears ₹100 Crore for Mysuru Airport Expansion, Ending Deadlock

In a major breakthrough, the Karnataka Cabinet has approved ₹100 crore to fast-track the much-delayed expansion of Mysuru Airport. The decision, made during a Cabinet meeting at M.M. Hills in Chamarajanagar district on Thursday, aims to resolve land acquisition hurdles and utility shifting challenges that have stalled the project for years.

The approval signals the State’s commitment to moving the project forward, particularly after a prolonged dispute with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) over who should bear the cost of relocating utilities — a bill pegged at ₹101.82 crore.

Despite Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Chief Secretary Shalini Rajneesh urging the AAI to share the burden, citing the State’s funding of ₹319.14 crore for acquiring 240 acres, the AAI stuck to the National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 — which mandates that state governments provide land free of cost and encumbrances.

The utility shifting involves diverting two ditches and seven canals (₹70 crore) and rerouting KPTCL’s high-tension lines (₹31.82 crore).

With the stalemate now broken, the project is expected to gather momentum. The airport expansion includes extending the runway from 1,750 metres to 2,450 metres, enabling operations of larger, long-haul aircraft. Currently, only ATR-72 type aircraft operate from Mysuru, limiting connectivity and potential growth for the city.

The move is seen as crucial for Mysuru’s future as a major business and tourism hub.