Mangalore to become India’s largest international airport: Praful Patel

Mangalore to become India’s largest international airport: Praful Patel

Mangalore Today News

Mangalore, May 15: Honourable Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Praful Patel inaugurated the newly constructed integrated terminal at Mangalore Airport, Bajpe on May 15, Saturday, and said that the project of constructing a brand new international airport has been completed on time under the guidance of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. The Chief Minister of Karnataka B. S. Yeddyurappa was also present on the occasion. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Mentioning the fact that India has the 9th largest civil aviation market in the world, Mr. Patel said that Mangalore will soon become the largest international airport in the country. The central government will release funds worth Rs 100 crore to upgrade the airport, he said. 

Chief Minister B. S. Yeddyurappa said that the construction of the international airport cost Rs 192 crore. The airport authority has constructed the civil terminal. The projects of constructing the Mysore and Mangalore Airport terminals were completed on time thanks to the support of the central government, he said. 

The newly constructed airport terminals will now facilitate the economic growth of the state, added the chief minister. He further explained that Mangalore has great potential for growth and development after Bangalore. The state government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 600 crore for the development of the railways and is ready to spend an additional sum of Rs 500 crore, he said. 

The chief minister also said that the state government has released Rs 9 crore for the construction of a runway road from Mangalore to the Bajpe Airport to facilitate smooth flow of traffic. 

 

Mangalore is considered as one of the fastest growing city in our country. There is no doubt that Mangalore becoming a financial capital in coming days said Union Law minister Veerappa Moily. He has also urged Karnataka state government to give proper compensation to those people, who lost the land while constructing New Integrated Terminal Board building.

 

G. Janardhana Reddy, the minister for infrastructural development and tourism said that around 13 new international airports will be constructed after the completion of the land acquisition process under the guidance of CM B. S. Yeddyurappa. 

 

International airports will be constructed in Hubli and Belgaum too, he said and explained that the airports will be constructed especially to facilitate the economic growth of Karnataka. He also announced that the state has secured the first place in providing basic amenities to the people.

The air port, which handles five international and 12 domestic flights a day was declared a ‘custom airport for limited international operations’ in 2006.

Hopes
The business community hopes that it will soon be declared a full-fledged international airport and the cargo movement will begin from here soon. The Saturday’s opening of the new terminal, it is hoped, will add force to the demands.

The business community hopes that more domestic and international carriers will start operating from the airport, considering the steady growth it has witnessed in recent years.
The sharp increase in the air passenger traffic up to from 2.4lakh in 2005-06 to over 6.5 lakh in 200-10 is expected to increase further and generate more revenue to business establishments, including the catering sector here.

Export Promotion
Besides, launch of cargo service from the airport would lead to export to flowers and vegetables to west Asian and other countries said Srinivas S Kamath, President of Chamber of commerce and industry.

Assistant Director of Marine Product Export Development Authority, Rajkumar S Naik Said that the ornamental fish breeders had been enquiring about the facilities available in Mangalore for export by air. The MPED has already targeted export of live fish worth Rs 1.5crore this year, he said

There is a huge demanded for fresh fish from Mangaloreans settled in west Asia.’ We get good quality fresh fish here and at Karwar. They can be packed in thermal boxes with ice and exported directly.