Hubballi: Union Minister Pralhad Joshi on Sunday said that the Hubballi Airport will be upgraded as an International Airport soon with the extension of the current runway by an additional 600 meters to facilitate the landing of the bigger aircrafts and the construction of a new terminal building.

Speaking at a meeting to highlight various developmental projects implemented by BJP governments in Hubballi-Dharwad, Joshi said that with the completion of the building of the proposed new terminal, the passenger handling area will be increased considerably from the present 3700 square meters.

It will also have three aero bridges together having 20,000 square meters space and with a capacity to handle 1400 passengers with all modern facilities and equipment and will run completely on solar power, he said.

Joshi said the development and expansion of Hubballi airport will help attract more investors to the region and also provide additional capacities to increase the cargo exports.

He said that with the operation of the new terminal, bigger aircraft like Airbus A320 flights will be operated between Hubballi-Bengaluru and Hubballi-Mumbai, he said.

Joshi added that Hubballi airport which is currently operating flights to almost all major cities in the country is currently handling more than five lakh passengers annually.

From February next, daily return flights will be introduced between Hubballi and Pune, he said.

(With UNI inputs)