The Belagavi (Sambra) airport runway expansion work is almost complete with all the Taxiway Edge Light Fittings, Approach, Threshold, End Light Fittings completed, it is now only awaiting the final approval from the DGCA. The actual extension of the airport was planned in 1999 and the working airport was closed citing the up-gradation process.
Once the approval is sought then Airline operators can plan to schedule their flights to and from Belagavi and it has been proposed with four flights per day and minimum seating capacity of 169 passengers.
According to sources the first entrant could be Indigo Airlines which is eying the Belagavi Tirupati route, which has huge traffic as pilgrims who visit Tirupati also visit Mahalaxmi in Kolhapur which is 90 minutes drive from Belagavi.
New Apron, Taxiway & Isolation Bay and associated works at Belgaum Airport. The project envisages providing Runway lighting, Taxiway Edge lighting, Approach Lighting and Laying of Cables is all been completed.
The existing runway of 1830 m has now been extended to 2300 m and the width would remain the same to 45 m.
The new taxiway is 23 m wide, 228.5 m long with 3.5 mtrs wide shoulders on both sides. There will be provision of new Isolation Bay 120 m × 100 m and 270 m × 23 m Link Taxiway with 3.5 m wide shoulder suitable to cater for code “C” type of aircraft.
A new parking apron of size 157.50 m × 130 m for parking aircraft 3 number Category C Aircrafts has been proposed. There is a provision of new Isolation Bay 120 m × 100 m and 270 m × 23 m Link Taxiway with 3.5m wide shoulder suitable to cater for code “C” type of aircraft.
A couple of mobile towers at Hanumanhatti could have posed a problem in landing and takeoff and hence they will be removed in the next week as per the order.
Work on New ATC tower cum Technical Block, Fire station (category VII), relocation of DVOR, security watch tower, new substation, AC plant room, provision of hooter system at access points and provision of explosive detection system is in progress.
Traffic potential of Belgaum Airport for the year 2012-2013 is 378 aircraft movements and 13778 passengers & traffic forecast for 2015-16 is 754 aircraft movements and 47513 passengers.
Forecast for 2016-17 is 792 and 52265 passengers
Forecast for 2017-18 is 831 and 57491 passengers
Forecast for 2022-2023 years is 1222 aircraft movements and 92590 passengers.
The existing airport area is 360.34 acres and got an additional area of about 370 acres for its expansion. Hence, the total project area will be 730.34 acres. At present Belgaum airport have one runway oriented 08/26, 1,830m in length, apron of 6,916m2 terminal building of 1200m2
The existing runway of 1830 m now extended to 2280 m only