Build low cost airports in small cities: Air Deccan Chief

Bangalore, Jun 29 (UNI) Air Deccan Executive Chairman Capt G R Gopinath today called for encouraging the private sector to build low cost airports in smaller cities and towns to provide air connection to rural India.

Speaking to newsmen on the sidelines of a function where he signed a MoU with India Post to sell air tickets of the low cost airliner through post offices, he said Air Deccan was in talk with builders to set up low cost airports in the smaller cities and the government should encourage private sector in this regard.

"Private builders are coming to us seeking our commitment to fly regular flights so that they can venture to build airports in smaller cities and towns. We want to encourage such entrepreneurs as 80 per cent of the people live in semi urban and rural areas in our country," he said.

He said these airports could be built within Rs 300-400 crore and the main onus would be on the runway. "The cost on terminal building and other facilities could be minimised. The state government should come forward to invite private people to build such airports," he said.

Capt Gopinath said to create value around such airports, the governments could consider setting up of industrial estates near the airports. "This could help increase the real estate value in smaller cities and towns. I have spoken to Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in this regard," he said.

Capt Gopinath said it was a shame that the Bangalore Airport belonging to Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd, will not be in operation once the Bangalore International Airport near Devanahalli was thrown open for air traffic early next year.

"Under certain circumstances the government had to sign a pact to this effect with BIAL. But it is a shame that we will not be able to use the HAL airport from next year. For a metro city it is important that it had multiple airports as in the case with the west. HAL airport is a great infrastructure for Bangalore. The government must find a way out for this," he said.

The Air Deccan Chief said that government should encourage healthy competition among the airports just line airliners. Monopoly was bad and competition was always a healthy practice to ensure healthy growth of the industry, he added.

UNI