Praful announces modernisation plan for Dehradun Pantnagar airports

Dehradun, Sep 16(UNI) In a pre-election bonanza ahead of the Assembly elections in Uttaranchal in February, Civil Aviation Minister and NCP leader Praful Patel today announced a Rs 150 crore modernisation plan for the airports in Dehradun and Pantnagar in the hill state.

The plan would be carried out by the Airport Authority of India and would be completed by 2007, he told reporters on the sidelines of the Extended Working Committee meeting of the NCP on the first day of the two day National Convention of the party here.

Under the plan, the two airports would be prepared for regular landing of bigger planes. Dehradun airport would have a runway extending to 5700 feet with night landing facililties. Presently only small planes connected Delhi with Dehradun. The Pantnagar airport will also be provided all these facilities, Mr Patel said, adding such a step was necessary in view of the boost given to promote tourism and industrialisaion in Uttaranchal.

The Union Minister said that in view of the vast possibilities of religious tourism in Uttaranchal, helicopter and small planes services would be increased, and FDI invited in the sector. ''I am already getting representations in this regard and will decide about them in two months,'' he said.

In the present day world connectivity had become very important for the development of a region, he said, adding the centre was even prepared to help develop airstrips if the state Governments so desired.

Earlier, NCP General Secretary and party spokesman D P Tripathi told reporters that the extended Working Committee meeting of the party was on at the moment, discussing various issues.

''The Extended Working Committee would formally endorse all the resolutions to be discussed and adopted in the open session of the National Convention tomorrow,'' he saidl.

Newly elected Rajya Sabha member from Maharashtra and daughter of party president Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule, who is also attending the Working Committee meet told reporters that she would try to become a good Parliamentarian raising isses of public importantance on education, women empowerment and welfare of the handicapped -- issues on which she has been working for some time.

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