KKCCI demands immediate restoration of Kalaburagi–Bengaluru flight, flags government inaction

The Kalyana Karnataka Chamber of Commerce & Industry (KKCCI) on Monday criticised the Centre’s failure to restore the Kalaburagi–Bengaluru commercial flight service and urged prompt, time-bound action to end the connectivity gap that has hurt business, education and medical travel in the region.

The chamber said the service has been suspended since October 15 and that, despite a detailed representation to the Civil Aviation Minister on October 24, it has received no response or timeline for reinstatement.

In a strongly worded media note, KKCCI president Sharanabasappa Pappa and secretary Shivaraj Inginshetty said that the ongoing disruption was disrupting trade and investment, delaying urgent medical travel, inconveniencing students and job seekers, and hampering government and judicial business.

The chamber also warned of adverse consequences for local agro-industries, including GI-tagged toor dal producers, whose value chains rely on timely connectivity.

The KKCCI demanded that the government announce a clear, time-bound plan to restore the Kalaburagi–Bengaluru service and extend RCS–UDAN support to ensure the route’s long-term sustainability. The chamber asked authorities to prioritise re-allocation or re-bidding of the route, actively encourage carriers such as Star Air, Alliance Air and IndiGo to operate the sector, and explore new air links from Kalaburagi to Delhi, Mumbai, Tirupati, and Mangaluru.

Highlighting the silence of elected representatives, Mr. Pappa and Mr. Inginshetty said that “silence itself was a matter of concern” and called on MPs and State leaders to press the Centre for a speedy resolution. 

They said that the delay in restoring the flight undercuts efforts to bring balanced development to Kalyana Karnataka and asked officials to treat the matter as urgent. The statement underlined that the representation submitted to the Aviation Minister in late October had not produced any follow-up, and urged immediate administrative intervention, including RCS-UDAN support or priority re-allocation, so that businesses, patients and students are not forced to rely solely on lengthier road journeys.

The KKCCI added that the region cannot be deprived of “basic connectivity and equal growth opportunities”.

Mr. Pappa and Mr. Inginshetty appealed to the Union government, aviation authorities and local representatives to act without further delay. “Development for the Kalyana Karnataka region cannot remain in speeches and promises. It must rather reflect in action,” they said.