The long-awaited Vijayapura Airport in northern Karnataka could begin operations within three months following a favourable Supreme Court verdict that removed environmental clearance hurdles.
Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil announced the development on Wednesday, marking a significant breakthrough for the project that has faced repeated delays.
A three-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered the final verdict clearing the way for further procedures related to environmental permissions.
The latest judgement has provided permanent relief to the airport project, allowing it to move forward after years of legal complications stemming from environmental clearance issues that arose because the necessary permissions were not obtained before construction began.
Patil welcomed the decision and thanked the legal team, including Solicitor General Tushar Mehta and senior advocate Kapil Sibal, who supported the state's case.
The minister explained that whilst environmental clearance is mandatory for public interest projects, the latest court order has eased delays and allowed approval processes to continue. Remaining statutory approvals and inspections will now determine the final commissioning timeline.
The state government has invested over Rs 614 crore in developing the airport, which spans 727 acres in the villages of Buranapur and Madabhavi, approximately 15 km from Vijayapura city centre.
Construction is nearly complete, with the facility designed to handle ATR 72-type aircraft initially, with plans to accommodate larger aircraft such as the Airbus A320 in future phases.
Once operational, the airport is expected to improve connectivity and support economic development in Kittur Karnataka and nearby regions.