New airport between Mangaluru and Udupi raises questions about feasibility

Former Director of Mangaluru Airport raises some queries on the proposed new airport at Padubidri Calling it a futile exercise, he refutes all points made in support of the new airport. Main objection is that a new airport at Padubidri will make the existing one at Bajpe redundant

Close on the heels of a proposal to construct a new airport at Padubidri, between Mangaluru and Udupi, questions are raised about its feasibility by the former director of Mangaluru Airport M R Vasudeva Rao.

His main objection is that a new airport at Padubidri will make the existing one at Bajpe redundant. The major section of commuters at the Mangaluru airport is from Kasargod. Bajpe to Kasargod is only 65 km, whereas Padubidri is 100 KM.  The Kannur airport at Kerala, for which works are already undergoing, is only 92 KM to Kasargod. Hence commuters will prefer to go to Kannur, he says.

Technically the Padubidri airport will not be feasible because Mangaluru airport already has a runway of 2.45 KM. Mere extending of another 550 meters will enable even airbus to land. The land required for it is already with the Airport Authority of India.  The extension of 420 meters is very much feasible.  The additional land to be acquired for this purpose is merely 90 acres as against the 1000 acres required for the new airport.  Regarding the doubt expressed about constructing a runway on the hillock, Vasudev Rao asks “who said it is not possible?  Has a survey been made?” he asks.

Constructing a new airport costs huge funds, to the tune of Rs 5000 crores  to Rs 10,000 crores and land of 1000 acres, whereas extending the Mangaluru Bajpe airport costs only Rs 1120 crores and acquiring 90 acres of land.  Shifting of infrastructure like radar etc will once again cost additional.

In 1988-89 when extension of Mangaluru airport was planned, 6000 ft land at Nandikur, Padubidri for construction of runway was available. At Bengre 8000 ft for runway was also available. The reason Bajpe was chosen was that both Padubidri and Bengre were found not suitable. It took 14 years to acquire the land for Mangaluru airport. Now, how long it will take to acquire 1000 acres of land for proposed new airport is anybody guess, he said.