Stakeholders underline need for retaining air link to Mysore
Holding out hopes for the future of Mysore airport, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation G.M. Siddeshwar has said that the government would not allow any functioning and ‘live’ airport to shut down.
Speaking to presspersons here on Saturday, Mr. Siddeshwar said that it was the dream of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to open airports in all tier-II and tier-III cities and therefore, the question of allowing an existing facility to shut down does not arise.
The Minister’s reaction came in the wake of reports that Mysore airport could become redundant following the decision of SpiceJet, the sole commercial service provider to the city, to suspend operations from September. “I am optimistic about the Mysore airport and assure that flights will operate during Dasara,” Mr. Siddeshwar said.
He refused to spell out details but said that a detailed discussion with stakeholders would be held on Sunday after a visit to the Mysore airport for an inspection.
“There are issues related to high aviation turbine fuel charges in the State which is about 29 per cent and the flight operators want this reduced,” he said.
Earlier, stakeholders including members of Mysore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MCCI), Mysore Industries Association (MIA), Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), and Confederation of Real Estate Development Association of India (CREDAI), underlined the imperatives of retaining air connectivity to Mysore to lure investors and promote tourism.
P. Vishwanath, president, MIA, pointed out that Mysore was being under-served by airlines though there was good air passenger traffic potential. The stakeholders also urged the Minister to upgrade the airport to facilitate the operation of larger aircrafts.
The MCCI said that their immediate demand from the government was to ensure that existing flights should not be discontinued at any cost as flight connectivity was imperative for business and industrial growth.
The Mysore airport was upgraded at a cost of nearly Rs. 82 crore by the Airports Authority of India in 2009 but inaugurated in 2010, and has been jinxed since.
The airport is served by one commercial airline at any given point of time. After Kingfisher Airlines folded operations in the city, SpiceJet is suspending services from September 1 citing poor load factor.
(The Hindu)
