Shivamogga MP B.Y. Raghavendra has said that he requested the Minister for Infrastructure Development M.B. Patil to hand over the Shivamogga Airport to the Airport Authority of India.

Speaking to mediapersons in Shivamogga on Thursday, Mr. Raghavendra said that acting on his request, the State government deputed IAS officer R. Vishal, Secretary of the Infrastructure Development Department, to New Delhi for talks with AAI officials.