Jindal Vijayanagar Airport Explained

Jindal Vijayanagar Airport
Iata:VDY
Icao:VOJV
Type:Public
Owner-Oper:JSW Steel
City-Served:Bellary, Hampi and Hospet
Location:Toranagallu, Karnataka, India
Elevation-F:1667
Elevation-M:1667feet
Coordinates:15.175°N 76.6341°W
Pushpin Map:India Karnataka#India
Pushpin Label:VDY
Metric-Elev:y
Metric-Rwy:y
R1-Number:13/31
R1-Length-F:1589m (5,213feet)
R1-Length-M:1,589
R1-Surface:Asphalt
Stat-Year:April 2023 – March 2024
Stat1-Header:Passengers
Stat1-Data:43,140(80%)
Stat2-Header:Aircraft movements
Stat2-Data:1,228(34.9%)
Stat3-Header:Cargo tonnage
Stat3-Data:
Footnotes:Source: AAI[1] [2] [3]

Jindal Vijayanagar Airport, also known as Vidyanagar Airport, is a public airport serving Bellary, Hampi and Hospet in Karnataka, India. It is located between Vidyanagar Township and a steel mill owned by JSW Steel in Toranagallu. The airport was built by Jindal Vijayanagar Steel, which later changed its name to JSW Steel. It opened in 1997 and began handling commercial flights in December 2006.

History

Jindal Vijayanagar Steel built the airport next to its plant in Toranagallu for use by senior employees.[4] It began operations in 1997.[5] In 2004, the government of Karnataka announced that the airstrip would be upgraded to serve as the new commercial airport for Bellary, which was 30km (20miles) away. Air Deccan planned to fly 48-seater planes to the airfield.[6] Bellary already had an airport, which had lacked scheduled service for over a decade.[7] [8] However, officials said its runway was not long enough for Air Deccan's aircraft and that there was no room to extend it. The government also hoped that Jindal Vijayanagar Airport would attract tourists bound for Hampi. In 2006, the company, now known as JSW Steel, constructed a terminal building at a cost of . Karnataka governor T. N. Chaturvedi inaugurated the airport in November 2006, and Air Deccan launched flights to Bangalore and Goa the following month.[9] [10]

As part of the government's UDAN Scheme, TruJet began service to Hyderabad in September 2017.[11] In October 2022, Alliance Air started flying to Hyderabad and Bangalore.[12]

Facilities

Jindal Vijayanagar Airport has one asphalt runway designated 13/31. It measures 1589x.[13] The waiting area in the terminal seats 50 people.

Airlines and destinations

Between April 2023 and March 2024, the airport handled 43,140 passengers and had 1,228 aircraft movements.[1] [2]

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Annexure III – Passenger Data. aai.aero. 23 April 2024.
  2. Web site: Annexure II – Aircraft Movement Data. aai.aero. 23 April 2024.
  3. Web site: Annexure IV – Freight Movement Data. aai.aero. 23 April 2024.
  4. Dey . Sudipto . 6–19 April 2008 . The Second Coming . . 3 . 8 . 58–61 . 21 June 2016.
  5. News: Govt may allow airports on private land . Business Standard . 2007-02-06 . 20 February 2024 . Rediff.com.
  6. News: 16 July 2004 . Bellary flights to use Jindal airstrip . The Hindu.
  7. News: 28 September 2004 . Bangalore-Bellary flights postponed . The Hindu.
  8. Web site: Resumption of Vayudoot services . Lok Sabha Debates . 1991-08-20 . 21 February 2024 . 62–64.
  9. News: 3 November 2006 . Hampi gets air connectivity from Bangalore, Goa . . 21 June 2016.
  10. News: 1 December 2006 . Jindal airport opened for commercial operations . . 21 June 2016.
  11. News: Ballari-Hyderabad flight service takes off . The Hindu . 2017-09-21 . 20 February 2024.
  12. Web site: Narayan, Subhash. Jindal Vijayanagar Airport hosts Alliance Air's new flights to Hyd, Bengaluru. Livemint. 30 October 2022. 31 October 2022. en.
  13. Web site: Aeronautical Information Publication for Jindal Vijayanagar Airport . Airports Authority of India . 2024-01-11 . 3 February 2024.