10-15 airports to be activated next year: Gajapathi Raju

Kumbakonam (TN), Aug 21: Government was keen on regional connectivity and as part of its plan, 10-15 airports would be activated by the next year, Civil Aviation Minister P Ashok Gajapathi Raju today said.

"The work on regional connectivity is in progress. We have developed a scheme for regional connectivity. There are 31 or 32 unconnected airports and we are planning to activate some of them and 10 or 15 airports may be activated by next year," he told reporters here.

Raju, who arrived here enroute to nearby Marugur to visit the 'samadhi' of a freedom fighter, said the country was recording the fastest growth in the civil aviation sector in the world.

On cargo operations, he said there was good potential but the problem was several rates of taxes on fuel in different states.

"The major operational cost 45 per cent is fuel and tax problem is there. I have written addressing this to Chief Ministers of all the states," he said. Highlighting various welfare schemes and initiatives of the NDA government, he said there was no corruption and scams in this regime.

He said the Goods and Services Tax (GST) would lower the manufacturing cost and help consumers.

PTI