Udupi District Proposes International Airport on 941 Acres Near Padubidri
Local administration identifies land near Ermālu and Santoor for potential airport project to serve coastal Karnataka; feasibility and funding remain key concerns.
The Udupi district administration has identified approximately 941 acres of land near Ermālu and Santoor villages, close to Padubidri, for a proposed international airport project. The land, originally acquired for industrial purposes, is now being considered for aviation infrastructure.
Officials from the Deputy Commissioner’s office have written to Karnataka’s Infrastructure Development Department, seeking permission to forward the airport proposal to the Central Government. The timing coincides with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the Sri Krishna Math on November 28, though it remains unclear whether the proposal will be formally presented during that occasion.
Local MP Kota Srinivas Poojary raised practical concerns about the project’s viability. “This will require massive investment. We need a comprehensive feasibility study first. There’s ongoing discussion about whether this is the right time to submit such a proposal,” he said.
Deputy Commissioner T.K. Swaroopa confirmed that a letter has been sent to the Principal Secretary but stressed that “no final decision has been taken yet” regarding when or how to proceed with the proposal.
Current Situation and Challenges
Residents across Udupi, Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, and Kodagu districts currently depend on Mangaluru International Airport at Bajpe for air connectivity. While a dedicated airport near Udupi could improve access for coastal and Malnad regions, the project faces several hurdles:
- No feasibility study has been conducted yet
- Funding sources remain unidentified
- Environmental and technical assessments are pending
- The proposal is still in preliminary stages
Officials have also suggested that land near Nandikur—where the UPCL power project’s second phase has stalled due to technical issues—could potentially be used for airport development.
What Happens Next
The proposal requires multiple levels of approval from state and central authorities. Even if submitted, such projects typically undergo extensive evaluation including feasibility studies, environmental impact assessments, and financial viability analysis before any construction can begin.
For now, the airport remains a proposal on paper, with its future dependent on government approvals, funding arrangements, and technical feasibility reports.
