Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated the Shivamogga airport and several other infrastructural projects in Karnataka state on Monday.
The projects look to ensure better connectivity and accessibility of Karnataka state’s Malnad and other neighboring regions with different cities across the country.
The prime minister said that the new airport, which cost the government INR 4.50 billion ($54 million), will not just increase tourist flows, but also open the prospects for youth, boosting the IT sector and creating employment opportunities in the region.
The PM also laid the foundation of two railway projects, including a new line connecting Shivamogga with Shikaripura and Ranebennur, costing $119 million; and the Koteganguru Coaching Depot.
While the airport will increase travel in Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, and Hassan districts, the new coaching depot will offer train services from Shivamogga that will prevent overcrowding and streamline operations at Bengaluru and Mysuru cities.
Modi also laid the foundation stone for multiple road development projects estimated at over $25.93 million.
These included the construction of a new bypass for Shikaripura, connecting Byndur and Ranibennur; the widening of the national highway from Megaravalli and Agumbe villages; and the construction of a new bridge in Bharathipura in Thirthahally Taluk town.
Giving a push to India's infrastructure, Modi has looked to empower villagers to travel to the cities for better job opportunities, careers, and ways of living.
While talking about the impact the new Shivamogga airport will have on the lives of people, Modi said, "This is not just an airport. It is the drive for a new journey of the dreams of the youth of this area."
India's 2023-24 Infrastructure Budget
In February, the federal government allotted INR 2.7 trillion ($32.6 billion) in its annual budget to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways, a nearly 36 percent increase from last year’s allocation of INR 1.99 trillion ($24.04 billion).
The budget for this year includes 50 additional airports, heliports, water aerodromes and advanced landing grounds that will be revived for improving regional air connectivity in the country.
To boost air connectivity, the government has recently taken various initiatives and schemes including the regional airport development program UDAN (Let the common citizens of the country fly).
From launching the new luxurious Vande Bharat bullet trains to the vista-dome coaches, to improving existing train facilities, increasing the number of trains, and the electrification of tracks, much work is underway to modernize local transport infrastructure.