The Hindu : Front Page : ‘Aviation sector key contributor to growth'

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Thursday, Sep 02, 2010
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‘Aviation sector key contributor to growth'

Special Correspondent

Manmohan lays foundation stone for Integrated Terminal at Tirupati airport

FLYING HIGH:Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel greet the public at the Tirupati airport on Wednesday. Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan (left) is also seen.—

TIRUPATI: Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has lauded the aviation sector for the unprecedented growth it has witnessed during the last seven years.

Addressing a meeting here on Wednesday after laying the foundation stone for the new Integrated Terminal at the Tirupati airport which would transform it into a world class and environmental-friendly airport, the Prime Minister said the domestic air traffic had tripled while the international traffic has more than doubled.

Dr. Singh attributed this to the rapid economic development. “Steps were initiated by the Civil Aviation Ministry to modernise and develop infrastructure facilities at airports through the Public Private Partnership mode on a continuous basis to meet the burgeoning air traffic. Citing examples, Dr. Singh made a mention about the recently inaugurated world class terminal at the New Delhi airport and the greenfield airports in Hyderabad and Bangalore.

When the Rs.174-crore integrated terminal at the Tirupati airport is put in place, it would lead to upgradation of facilities at the existing airport to provide for international operations, he said.

The airport will be a boon to pilgrims from neighbouring countries like Singapore, Malaysia and Sri Lanka. It would also contribute to Tirupati emerging as a major religious-cum-tourist hub, he added. The Prime Minister called upon the State government, Ministry of Civil Aviation and Ministry of Tourism to work in close tandem to achieve the objective.

Paying tribute to former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy whose first death anniversary falls on Thursday, Dr. Singh said he would have been happy if he were alive today because the NTPC-BHEL power project and the Integrated Airport Terminal for which Dr. Singh laid the foundation stone were “two of his cherished dreams”.

Union Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel said that of 35 non-metro airports which were being upgraded in the country, 25 were nearly completed while the work was fast apace in the rest. He praised Tirupati MP Chintha Mohan for his perseverance in getting the Tirupati airport terminal work started.

Governor E.S.L. Narasimhan was among others who attended the function.

In the absence of Chief Minister K. Rosaiah who could not come to Tirupati owing to being indisposed, his speech was read out by Minister for Forests P. Ramachandra Reddy. Mr. Rosaiah urged the Prime Minister to direct the Airports Authority of India to bear the cost of land acquisition component vis-a-vis the airports upgradation works under way in the State, in view of its meagre financial resources. Chairman of the AAI V.P. Agarwal felicitated the Prime Minister and others.

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