Kalaburagi Airport
{{short description|Airport serving Kalaburagi, Karnataka, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=April 2025}}
{{Infobox airport
| name = Kalaburagi Airport
| image = Kalaburagi Airport.png
| image-width =
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| IATA = GBI
| ICAO = VOGB
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| type = Public
| owner-oper =
| owner = Airports Authority of India
| operator = Airports Authority of India
| city-served = Kalaburagi
| location = Srinivas Saradagi, Kalaburagi district, Karnataka, India
| hub =
| built =
| metric-elev = yes
| elevation-f = 1571
| elevation-m = 479
| coordinates = {{Coord|17|18|28|N|76|57|29|E|type:airport_region:IN|display=inline,title|name=Gulbarga Airport}}
| website = [https://www.aai.aero/en/node/224863 Kalaburagi Airport]
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| pushpin_map = India Karnataka#India
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| pushpin_label = GBI
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| r1-number = 09/27
| r1-length-f = 10417
| r1-length-m = 3175
| r1-surface = Asphalt
| stat-year = April 2024 – March 2025
| stat1-header = Passengers
| stat1-data = 30,924 ({{decrease}} 43.6%)
| stat2-header = Aircraft movements
| stat2-data = 851 ({{decrease}} 48.1%)
| stat3-header = Cargo tonnage
| stat3-data = —
| footnotes = Source: AAI{{cite web|title=Annexure III – Passenger Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex3.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=30 April 2025}}{{cite web|title=Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex2.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=30 April 2025}}{{cite web|title=Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data|url=https://www.aai.aero/sites/default/files/traffic-news/Mar2k25Annex4.pdf|website=aai.aero|access-date=30 April 2025}}
}}
Kalaburagi Airport {{airport codes|GBI|VOGB}} is a domestic airport serving the city of Kalaburagi in Karnataka, India. It is located {{cvt|12|km}} east from the city centre. It was built by the Karnataka State Public Works Department (PWD) with technical assistance from RITES Limited{{cite news |title=CM launches left-over works for Gulbarga airport |url=https://www.deccanherald.com/content/538851/work-kalaburagi-airport-hits-design.html|work=Deccan Herald |date=18 September 2016 |access-date=26 October 2016 }} and is operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI).{{cite news |title=Govt hands over Kalaburagi Airport to AAI|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/govt-hands-over-kalaburagi-airport-to-aai-756736.html |work=Deccan Herald |date=24 August 2019 |access-date=25 August 2019}}
History
File:Kalaburagi Airport Terminal Building.jpg
The {{INR}}120 crore greenfield project was initially scheduled be built under Public–private partnership (PPP) with the government of Karnataka (GoK).{{cite news |title=Karnataka to open two greenfield minor airports by July 2013 |url=http://www.business-standard.com/article/companies/karnataka-to-open-two-greenfield-minor-airports-by-july-2013-113020600130_1.html|work=Business Standard |date=7 February 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013 }}
On 15 November 2007, the government of Karnataka awarded the Gulbarga Airport project to a consortium of Maytas Infra Ltd. (Now IL&FS Engineering and Construction Company Limited),{{cite book | title = IL&FS may partner foreign firms to improve Maytas Infra position | url = http://www.livemint.com/2009/09/01231812/ILampFS-may-partner-foreign.html?h=B | author = C R Sukumar | publisher = livemint.com | date = 1 September 2009 | access-date = 2 September 2009 }} NCC Infrastructure Holdings Ltd. (NCC) and VIE India Project Development and Holding on a Build–operate–transfer (BOT) basis. The concession period was to be 30 years, extendable by an additional 30 years, by mutual agreement.[http://www.ilfsengg.com/html/airports.php Gulbarga Airport] IL&FS Engineering Services
Gulbarga Airport Developers Pvt. Ltd. (GADPL), a Special Purpose Company (SPC), was established to sign the Project Development Agreement (PDA) with the Infrastructure Development Department of the Government of Karnataka. The shareholding pattern of Maytas Infra, NCC and VIE in the SPC was 37%, 37% and 26% respectively. The agreement was subsequently signed on 2 April 2008. and the foundation stone for Phase I of the project was laid by former Chief Minister of Karnataka, Shri B. S. Yediyurappa on 14 June 2008.[http://www.deccanherald.com/content/101738/gulbarga-airport-remains-promise.html Gulbarga airport remains a promise] Deccan Herald, The Printers (Mysore) Private Ltd
Gulbarga Airport was to have started operations in the latter half of 2012 but was delayed{{cite news |title=Kharge fumes over delay in Gulbarga airport project work |url=http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-karnataka/kharge-fumes-over-delay-in-gulbarga-airport-project-work/article4069456.ece|work=The Hindu |date=6 November 2012 |access-date=6 July 2013 }} due to financial mismanagement/disputes between the shareholders of Gulbarga Airport Development Ltd (GADL).{{cite news |title=Airport projects in four cities in limbo as promoters back out |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/339636/airport-projects-four-cities-limbo.html|work=Deccan Herald |date= 18 June 2013 |access-date=6 July 2013 }}
The state government terminated the contract in January 2015 for not complying with the Project Development Agreement (PDA), which required the completion of construction work by May 2012. The State Government then decided to complete the remaining work through its own Public Works Department.{{cite news |title=Kalaburagi airport project may go to PWD |url=http://www.deccanherald.com/content/482210/kalaburagi-airport-project-may-go.html |work=Deccan Herald |date=8 June 2015 |access-date= 9 June 2015 }} In September 2016, the State PWD started the first phase of work on the airport. This included extending the runway to 3.2 km. from the existing 1.9 km., to facilitate the landing of larger aircraft, and completing the compound wall. Construction of the terminal building and other facilities would be taken up in the second phase. On 26 August 2018, two Diamond Aircraft flew in from Hyderabad and landed on the runway at Gulbarga as a trial.{{Cite web |url=http://www.kannadaprabha.com/karnataka/the-kalaburgi-airport-trial-run-has-been-successful/323049.html |title=ಕಲಬುರ್ಗಿ ವಿಮಾನ ನಿಲ್ದಾಣದಲ್ಲಿ ಪ್ರಾಯೋಗಿಕ ಹಾರಾಟ ಯಶಸ್ವಿ! kannadaprabha.com |access-date=26 August 2018 |archive-date=26 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180826164702/http://www.kannadaprabha.com/karnataka/the-kalaburgi-airport-trial-run-has-been-successful/323049.html |url-status=dead }}
Construction work was completed by August 2019 at a cost of Rs. 181 Crore, not including the cost of acquiring 742 acres of land.{{cite news |title= Kalaburagi Airport Ready for Operation|url= http://www.uniindia.com/kalaburagi-airport-ready-for-operation-karnataka-govt-to-sign-pact-with-moca-on-aug-24-official/south/news/1706722.html |work=United News of India |date=23 August 2019 |access-date=25 August 2019}}
The airport was formally handed over to the AAI on 24 August 2019. The Karnataka Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (KSIIDC), on behalf of the Government of Karnataka, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with AAI to develop, operate and maintain the airport.
The airport was inaugurated by Chief Minister of Karnataka B. S. Yediyurappa on 22 November 2019.{{Cite web|date=2019-11-22|title=Kalaburagi airport inaugurated by Karnataka CM Yediyurappa; full flight schedule|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/kalaburagi-airport-inaugurated-by-karnataka-cm-yediyurappa-full-flight-schedule/|access-date=2022-02-22|website=The Indian Express|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Kalaburagi Airport inaugurated under UDAN/RCS|url=https://www.aninews.in/|access-date=2022-02-22|website=www.aninews.in|language=en}}
In 2021, Kalaburagi Airport saw steady surge in passenger and flight traffic with as many as 619 flights were operated between April and July 2021{{Cite web|author=Sangamesh Menasinakai|date=Aug 26, 2021|title=Steady surge in passenger and flight traffic at Kalaburagi Airport {{!}} Hubballi News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hubballi/steady-surge-in-passenger-and-flight-traffic-at-kalaburagi-airport/articleshow/85631914.cms|access-date=2022-02-22|website=The Times of India|language=en}}{{Cite web|title=The anatomy of a small airport: Kalaburagi airport is among India's fastest growing|url=https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/the-anatomy-of-a-small-airport-kalaburagi-airport-is-among-indias-fastest-growing-6558401.html|access-date=2022-02-22|website=Moneycontrol|date=23 February 2021 |language=en}}
Airlines and destinations
File:Air India Aircraft in GBI.jpg
{{Airport destination list
|Star Air|Bengaluru, Tirupati}}
== Statistics ==
{{Airport-Statistics|iata=GBI}}
See also
References
{{reflist}}{{Airports in India}}
{{Gulbarga topics}}{{Portal bar|Aviation}}
Category:Airports in Karnataka
Category:Buildings and structures in Kalaburagi district
Category:Transport in Kalaburagi district