Process to develop Belagavi, Davangere Smart Cities begins

Bengaluru, Feb 2: The State government has begun the process of creating separate companies to develop Belagavi and Davangere under the Smart Cities Mission. On January 29, Union Cabinet Secretary Pradeep Kumar Sinha, through videoconferencing, explained the special purpose vehicle (SPV) model to state Principal Secretary (Urban Development) T K Anil Kumar.

The two cities have been included in the first list of 20 announced on January 28 by Union Urban Development Minister M Venkaiah Naidu. The state had submitted a list of six cities.

“There are different models and the SPV is one of them. We are getting it vetted and will have clarity by this weekend,’’ Anil Kumar told Deccan Herald.

“We are working on the articles of association. Later it will be placed before the Cabinet for final approval,’’ he said.

Independence, autonomy
The Union Ministry of Urban Development (MoUD), in its guidelines on SPV, pointed out that the primary reason for creating an SPV is to ensure operational independence and autonomy in decision-making and mission implementation of Smart Cities.

The SPV will be a company with a board of directors from the State government, MoUD and independent directors.

The State Chief Secretary is likely to be the chairman with Principal Secretary (UDD) as its member secretary.

The managing director or the chief executive officer (CEO) will manage day-to-day affairs of implementing and monitoring Smart City projects.

The name of the managing director/chief executive officer has to be cleared by the Union Ministry of Urban Development and he/she will work independently and have a three-year tenure, the guidelines said.

Asked whether the SPV will function as a company set up under the Companies Act, Kumar said: “That’s what is being discussed and so I can’t comment.’’ The Centre is likely to release the first round ofFUNDS by March-end. Once the State releases the matching grant, works will begin.

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Air India Express brings back Mangaluru–Muscat direct flights from March 2026

News Network

December 15,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 15: Air India Express has announced that it will resume direct flight services between Mangaluru and Muscat from March 2026, restoring an important international air link for passengers from the coastal region.

Airport authorities said the service will operate twice a week—on Sundays and Tuesdays—from March 1. The initial flights are scheduled on March 3, 8 and 10, followed by March 15 and 17, with the same operating pattern to continue thereafter. The flight duration is approximately three hours and 25 minutes.

The Mangaluru–Muscat route was earlier operated under the 2025 summer schedule, with services beginning on July 14. At that time, Air India Express had operated four flights a week before suspending the service.

Officials said the summer schedule will come into effect from March 29, after which changes in flight timings and departure schedules from Mangaluru are expected. Passengers have been advised to check the latest schedules while planning their travel.

The resumption of direct flights to Muscat is expected to significantly benefit expatriates, business travellers and others, further strengthening Mangaluru’s air connectivity with the Gulf region.

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