Kalaburagi
Air connectivity between Kalaburagi, Bidar, and Bengaluru is set to resume soon after the Karnataka Cabinet approved financial support for airline operations under the Viability Gap Funding (VGF) scheme.
The decision is expected to revive suspended services from Kalaburagi and Bidar airports, which have remained non-operational for several months. Earlier, Star Air operated flights on the Kalaburagi–Bengaluru route but discontinued services from October 8 last year, citing suspension of the UDAN scheme and aircraft shortages.
Since then, passengers from the Kalyana Karnataka region have been forced to travel long distances via road or rely on connecting routes through Hyderabad or train services, causing inconvenience and longer travel time.
To address the issue, a high-level meeting was held under the leadership of Infrastructure Development Minister M B Patil, with participation from Ministers Priyank Kharge and Eshwar Khandre. Airline operators were also invited to submit proposals for restarting services.
Following discussions, the state Cabinet approved ₹28.47 crore annually as financial assistance to operate flights on the Bengaluru–Kalaburagi–Bengaluru and Bengaluru–Bidar–Bengaluru routes. The support will be provided under the Viability Gap Funding model, with 80% of the funding expected to come from the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board.
Officials said the initiative aims to ensure stable and continuous air connectivity to boost regional development, improve business travel, and enhance access to healthcare, education, and economic opportunities for people in northern Karnataka.
The move is seen as a significant step toward strengthening aviation infrastructure in the region and improving integration with the state capital and other major cities.