Government of Karnataka. extends viability gap funding of ₹ 28.47 crore to resume flights from Bengaluru to Bidar, Kalaburagi

File photo of Kalaburagi Airport.

The Karnataka government is extending viability gap funding of ₹ 28.47 crore to support and restore flight services from Bengaluru to Bidar and Kalaburagi, the district headquarters of Kalyana region of Karnataka, Infrastructure Development Minister MB Patil said on Friday.

Star Air (Ghodawat Enterprises Limited) will operate flights on Bengaluru-Bidar-Bengaluru and Bengaluru-Kalaburagi-Bengaluru sectors from June 1 and 10, he said.

Mr. Patil said the flight service to Kalaburagi was earlier suspended due to financial losses. In the case of Bidar, the services were run with special support from the Kalyana Karnataka Regional Development Board.

Keeping in mind the growth of industry, education, tourism, agriculture and commercial activities in Kalyana Karnataka, the government has decided to revive services under the regional air connectivity initiative, the minister said.

He further said that the government is committed to improve air connectivity to tier 2 and tier 3 cities across the state. Such initiatives would not only accelerate regional economic growth but also contribute to infrastructure development, he noted.

Mr. Patil recently held several rounds of talks with ministerial counterparts from the Kalyana Karnataka region and representatives of various airlines on the resumption of flight services.

Published – 22 May 2026 23:06 IST