Karnataka minister MB Patil seeks restoration of Bengaluru–Shivamogga flights under UDAN

Bengaluru: Karnataka infrastructure development minister MB Patil has urged the Centre to include the Bengaluru–Shivamogga air route in the next UDAN bidding round to restore suspended flight services.

In a letter to Union civil aviation minister Ram Mohan Naidu, Patil said the route is crucial for the economic and tourism growth of the Malnad region and parts of central Karnataka.

Shivamogga Airport commenced operations in February 2023, following which IndiGo operated flights between Shivamogga and Bengaluru. The service, however, has remained suspended for the past few months, according to a statement from the infrastructure development department.


Patil said air connectivity between the two cities is vital for supporting the economic, agricultural, tourism and industrial growth of districts such as Shivamogga, Chikkamagaluru, Uttara Kannada, Davanagere, Chitradurga and Haveri. The suspension has also affected passengers seeking onward domestic and international connections via Bengaluru, said the statement.

The minister sought inclusion of the route under the UDAN scheme with support through the government's Viability Gap Funding (VGF) mechanism to improve its commercial viability and facilitate the resumption of services.

Patil also said work on night-landing facilities at Shivamogga Airport is progressing rapidly and that the required infrastructure is already in place. He urged the Centre to take early steps to restore the service for the benefit of the region.