Pondy to take steps to extend airport runway: Malladi

Puducherry, Jan 23 (UNI) The Puducherry Administration is taking steps to extend the runway at the airport here to 4,000 metre, Toursim Minister Malladi Krishna Rao said today.

Talking to newspersons at Ariyankuppam Boathouse this evening after inaugurating a food court, Mr Rao said the 1,222 metre runway would be extended in two phases to 4,000 metre.

In the first phase, 260 metre would be added to enable the operation of 46 seater ATR aircrafts.

Air Decan and Kingfisher Paramount had shown interest in operating ATR aircrafts here,he added.

Mr Rao said about 20 hectare of land in Puducherry area was being acquired for the purpose which would be transferred to the Airports Authority of India (AAI).

A memorandum of understanding would be signed with the AAI in the first week of February. Another 80 hectare of land in Tamil Nadu need to be acquired to complete the runway extension programme which require Rs 18.46 crore.

The Tourism Department was having only Rs five crore with it and the Chief Minister had assured to provide the balance amount, he said.

Mr Rao said the first phase extension of the runway was expected to be completed in another six months following which flight operations to Bangalore would be resumed.

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