International flight service begins at Bajpe airport

Mangalore, Oct 3 (UNI) The entire airport area at Bajpe wore a festive look when an international flight, carrying 185 passengers from Dubai, landed at the airport near here this evening.

The passengers were accorded a warm welcome by Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa and other dignitaries.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Patel assured that the present thrice-a-week flight between Dubai and Mangalore would be converted into a daily service gradually.

He said there was no dearth of funds with the Centre to extend various facilities at the airports, provided the state governments worked in tandem. He urged the states to help the Centre by providing sufficient land required for airport activities to ensure inter-state connectivity as civil aviation, in keeping with the changing times, would be of a different kind in future. The Centre was ready to develop airports in tier-II cities like Belgaum, Hubli, Gulbarga and Mysore, he added.

Speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Rs 147 crore integral terminal building, Mr Patel said the Ministry had taken up upgradation of 35 airports in the next three to four years. The first phase of the Bangalore International Airport was expected to be completed by 2008 and taking the growing demand into consideration, the Ministry had decided to take up work on the second phase simultaneously and complete by 2009 instead of the earlier plan of 2020. The Bellary airport would be developed with private participation, he said.

The Minister called upon the State Governments to spend atleast Rs 20 crore to Rs 30 crore per year for developing airports in their respective States.

Mr Yediyurappa assured that the coalition Government in the State was committed to provide all required facilities at State airports by releasing special grants. The Government was in the process of acquiring land for the Mangalore Special Economic Zone, which was expected to attract Rs one lakh crore investment. It was the earnest desire of the Government to divert all future investments to cities like Mangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, Hubli and Shimoga from Bangalore.

Efforts would also be made to get Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Mangalore for laying the foundation stone for the SEZ, he added.

Mr V Tulasidas, Chairman and Executive Director of Air India Express, which commenced its international flight service to Mangalore today, said Air India had decided to increase its total flight service from the present 50 to 59 by the end of the month.

The AIE had also planned to extend international flight service from Mangalore to other Gulf countries and South East Asian countries.

He said the response for the international flight service between Mangalore and Dubai was overwhelming.

Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Dr K Ramalingam said the proposed new integrated terminal building at Bajpe airport, being constructed at an area of 18,220 sqmt, would have all modern amenities such as passenger boarding bridge, escalators, elevators, X-Bis and conveyor belts to meet 'IATA' level of service 'B'. The new terminal would be completed in 24 months after award of work. It would have the capability to handle one million passengers per annum. The AAI had also entered into a memorandum of understanding with the Karnataka Government for development of Rs 69 crore Mysore airport, for which the Government had provided free land.

UNI