Shivamogga Airport to be named after Kannada poet Kuvempu; trial run begins with air force craft

The much-awaited Shivamogga airport, which will be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 27, will be named after noted Kannada poet and Jnanpith awardee Mahakavi Kuvempu, the Karnataka cabinet decided Monday.

The state government also said that the proposal to name the airport after the revered poet will be submitted to the Centre soon. Last year, the Karnataka cabinet had proposed to name the Shivamogga airport after former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, who is a native of the district. However, he had rejected the proposal and recommended naming the airport after Kuvempu.

On Tuesday, the trial run of the flight operations kickstarted in the airport- located at Sogane with the arrival of an Indian Air Force aircraft.