Airport type Public 4,921 1,500 | 13/31 4,921 | |
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Address Kudligi Rd, Toranagallu, Karnataka 583123 Similar Jindal Vidya Mandir, Toranaga Railway Station, Hyatt Place, Bellary ACS, CMD Office | ||
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.
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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. However, as of March 2017, Jindal Vijaynagar Airport is not served by any airline.
Bangalore based Charter airline, Taneja Aerospace and Aviation Ltd (TAAL), Chipsan Aviation, operate sightseeing charter flights to Hampi and Mysore since October 2002
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. 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. Air Deccan announced it would commence flights from Bangalore on 2 October 2004; however, the route was not launched because of technical reasons.
The State Government still required certain facilities to be installed at the airstrip, including additional navigational aids and an air traffic control tower. JSW Steel began construction on a ₹25 crore (US$3.7 million) passenger terminal in 2006. 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. 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. 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.
Airfield
Jindal Vijaynagar Airport has one runway, 13/31. It measures 1,500 by 30 metres (4,921 ft × 98 ft) and is connected to the apron by two perpendicular taxiways.
Terminal
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.