The Hindu : Karnataka / Mysore News : Work on Mysore airport to begin in three months

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 21, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka - Mysore

Work on Mysore airport to begin in three months

Staff Correspondent

Project to be completed in three years

MYSORE: The much-awaited work on upgrading the Mysore airport will begin in the next three months, according to the Minister for Industries and Infrastructure, P.G. Sindhia.

Speaking to presspersons after attending a function at Amba Bhavani Temple here on Monday, Mr. Sindhia said that the uprgradation, which is expected to cost of Rs. 70 crores, will be completed in three years.

A memorandum of understanding (MoU) will be signed shortly between the State Government and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to pave the way for work to begin, he said. The State Cabinet and the Union Government have already cleared the project. The State Government will provide the land to upgrade the airport and the AAI will execute the project.

Mr. Sindhia's promise comes close on the heels of the Deputy Chief Minister, Siddaramaiah's assurance to presspersons that the MoU between the State Government and AAI will be signed before the end of the month.

Speaking to presspersons at the foundation stone laying ceremony for a Heritage Park on the outskirts of the city, Mr. Siddaramaiah had said that the State Government is in the process of acquiring 170 acres of land for the project.

Extension of runway

The upgradation project includes the extension of the existing runway to accommodate medium-sized aircrafts. The runway is around 1,400 metres and is far from sufficient for landing 50-seater aircraft.

An airport in the city with air-links to Mumbai, Chennai or other parts of the country, is widely expected to give a shot in the arm to industry and tourism. The two sectors have been doing exceptionally well in the city in the past few years. The pre-eminent position of the city as a tourism destination will receive a boost if the city is connected by air to other major tourist destinations in the country.

Increase in tourists

The recent summer vacation season and Dasara 2004 saw a large number of tourists flocking to the city. There has been a perceptible increase in the number of tourists visiting the Mysore Palace, Brindavan Gardens, Chamundi Hills, and the Mysore zoo in the last few months.

The boost in tourism was despite the poor road link with Bangalore and crowded trains plying between Bangalore and Mysore. If the road widening works between Mysore and Bangalore are completed and the doubling of the railway track between the two cities is taken up, the number of people visiting the city will go up even more.

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