Mangaluru: The Karnataka government has failed to hand over the additional 33 acres of land needed for the safety zones at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA), according to the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation. In a written response to a question raised by Dakshina Kannada MP Capt Brijesh Chowta in the Lok Sabha, Murlidhar Mohol, the Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation, explained that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) leased MIA to Mangaluru International Airport Limited (MIAL) for better management and development under the public-private partnership (PPP) model.
MIAL had requested the additional 33 acres to accommodate the Runway Safety Basic Strip and Runway End Safety Area. However, the Karnataka government did not agree to provide the land free of cost, citing the airport’s PPP status. The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has directed AAI to resolve the issue as per the guidelines of the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA), ensuring operational safety without affecting user tariffs.
In response to a query regarding the granting of Point of Call (PoC) status to MIA for enhancing international connectivity, the Minister confirmed that the government is not considering Mangaluru for PoC status under the Air Service Agreement, which governs international airline operations. While Indian airlines can operate from Mangaluru to foreign destinations, foreign carriers need PoC status to do the same.
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