Jindal Vijaynagar Airport

Jindal Vijaynagar Airport (IATA: VDY, ICAO: VOJV) is an airport located in Toranagallu, a village in the Indian state of Karnataka. Because of its location near Vidyanagar Township, the airport is also known as Vidyanagar Airport. It is owned and operated by JSW Steel, which operates a steel mill in Toranagallu. The name Jindal Vijaynagar comes from the company Jindal Vijaynagar Steel Ltd (JVSL), which merged to form JSW Steel in 2005.

Jindal Vijaynagar Airport
Interior of the terminal as seen in 2007
Summary
Airport typePublic
Owner/OperatorJSW Steel
ServesBellary, Hampi, Hospet, Toranagallu
LocationToranagallu, Karnataka, India
Coordinates15.1750°N 76.6341°E / 15.1750; 76.6341
Map
VDY
VDY
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
13/31 4,921 1,500 Asphalt
Statistics (April 2018 - March 2019)
Passenger movement75977(318.1%)
Aircraft movement1,466(244.1%)

Formerly a private landing strip for JVSL employees, the airport was upgraded to receive its first commercial flights in December 2006, serving tourism and business interests in Bellary District. Regional airline TruJet started providing once daily flight service from Hyderabad and Bengaluru.

History

Jindal Vijaynagar Airport was originally a private airstrip used by Jindal Vijaynagar Steel to transport senior employees to and from its adjacent steel plant.[3] In 2004, the State Government agreed to allow commercial flights from the airstrip. The airport is located close to the tourist attractions of Hampi, and the State Government hoped it attract businessmen to the steel industry in Bellary. Bellary Airport was not used as its runway was too short and narrow, and there was no room to expand it.[4] Air Deccan announced it would commence flights from Bangalore on 2 October 2004;[4] however, the route was not launched because of technical reasons.[5]

The State Government still required certain facilities to be installed at the airstrip, including additional navigational aids and an air traffic control tower.[6] JSW Steel began construction on a ₹25 crore (US$3.5 million) passenger terminal in 2006.[3] The airport was inaugurated on 3 November 2005 with Sajjan Jindal, managing director of JSW Steel, and several members of the State Government, including Governor T. N. Chaturvedi, in attendance.[7][8] Air Deccan conducted an inaugural flight to the airport on that day but did not begin routine operations until 1 December. The airline initially operated daily flights to Bangalore and Goa.[9][10] Air Deccan merged with Kingfisher Airlines in 2008 to form Kingfisher Red, which ended flights to the airport in early 2009 because of low occupancy.[11]

Facilities

Jindal Vijaynagar Airport has one runway, designated 13/31, that measures 1,500 by 30 metres (4,921 ft × 98 ft).[10] The passenger terminal covers 190 square metres (2,000 sq ft) and contains a single check-in desk, security lane, baggage scanner and a waiting area capable of seating 50 people.[3]

Airlines and destinations
AirlinesDestinations
TruJet Bengaluru, Bidar, Hyderabad

See also

References
  1. "traffic news Mar2K19Annex3 pdf" (PDF). Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  2. "traffic-news Mar2K19Annex2 pdf" (PDF). www.aai.aero. Retrieved 7 January 2020.
  3. Dey, Sudipto (6–19 April 2008). "The Second Coming". Outlook Business. Vol. 3 no. 8. pp. 58–59. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  4. "Bellary flights to use Jindal airstrip". The Hindu. 16 July 2004. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  5. "Bangalore-Bellary flights postponed". The Hindu. 28 September 2004. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  6. "Jindal airstrip needs a few more facilities". The Hindu. 18 March 2005. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  7. "Air Deccan launches flight from Bellary to Bangalore". The Hindu. 4 November 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  8. "Hampi gets air connectivity from Bangalore, Goa". Oneindia. 3 November 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  9. "Bellary gets an airport of its own". Daily News and Analysis. 1 December 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  10. "Jindal airport opened for commercial operations". Oneindia. 1 December 2006. Retrieved 21 June 2016.
  11. "Bellary airport land: Karnataka HC quashes acquisition notification". Daily News and Analysis. 5 January 2012. Retrieved 22 June 2016.
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