Shivamoga airport to be named after noted Kannada poet Kuvempu, set to be inaugurated by PM Modi on Feb 27

 On February 27, Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate the Shivamogga airport, which has been named after Kannada poet and Jnanpith awardee Mahakavi Kuvempu, as decided by the Karnataka cabinet. The proposal to name the airport after Kuvempu will be submitted to the Centre. The airport's trial run began on Tuesday, with Modi's flight being the first to land there during his visit to lay foundation stones for development projects. The airport cost nearly Rs 600 crore to build, with Rs 449 crore spent on infrastructure and the rest on land acquisition. The Karnataka government plans to build five new airports, including the ones in Shivamogga and Vijayapura districts, to cater to the growing demand for air travel. However, some netizens have criticized the lack of Kannada signboards at the airport, calling it "Hindi imposition"