Modi moots Gujarat airports as alternative to M'bai

Ahmedabad, Jan 21 (UNI) Mooting for Gujarat as an alternate destination to Mumbai for air travellers, Chief Minister Narendra Modi today said the congestion over Mumbai airport can be reduced by diverting International flights to Ahmedabad or any other Gujarat airport.

Calling upon the Aviation Minister to develop the state's facilities in a big way, he said, ''If Mumbai's international traffic is diverted to Gujarat, it will reduce its burden by at least 40 percent and the country can save a lot by this in terms of fuel and pollution and will make things comfortable for Mumbai too.

We can even look to earn some carbon credits from the World Bank.'' He was addressing a gathering at a ceremony organised by Airport Authority of India in which the foundation stone of the international terminal at the airport here was laid by Union Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel.

He suggested that Gujarat airports can also be developed as a transit point for flights linking East to the West. ''For those passengers who have to make three to four hour stops, we can issue them transit visas to enable them to visit Mahatma Gandhi's Sabarmati Ashram and the Sardar Patel memorial,'' he contended.

He also requested the Minister to link Bhuj airport to Gulf countries, as lot of Kutch people live in Qatar. He said the Gujarat government has been giving exemption of taxes on fuels to those airlines operating direct international flights from Ahmedabad.

Union Ministers Shankersinh Vaghela, Naran Rathwa and Dinsha Patel were also present on the occasion.

UNI