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Airports Authority of India & State Government of Karnataka has today signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to develop the Mysore Airport for operation of general aviation aircraft in fair weather conditions initially for ATR-42 operations & ultimately for B-737/A-320 type of aircraft. The Mysore Airport belongs to AAI.
According to the MoU, the State Government will provide 175 acres of land free of cost under Phase-I, along with free water, electricity required for airport operations and development. The Karnataka Government will also exempt all taxes and bear the cost for security of airport for 5 years from the date of its operationalization.
On the other hand, Airports Authority of India will develop a new runway of 1700 mtr. Length in east west direction with associated infrastructure like new terminal building for 100 passengers, apron, taxiway, control tower, fire-station, ground lighting & navigation lights at an estimated cost of Rs. 45 crore initially during the current financial year 2005-06.
The MoU was signed by Shri K. Ramalingam, Chairman, AAI on behalf of the Airports Authority of India and Shri Vinay Kumar, Principal Secretary, Infrastructure on behalf of the Government of Karnataka. The dignitaries present on the occasion were Shri Praful Patel, Minister for Civil Aviation, Government of India, Shri Dharam Singh, Chief Minister, Government of Karnataka, Shri P.G.R. Sindhia, Minister for Finance, Planning, Industries and Infrastructure Development, Shri Oscar Fernandes, Minister for Statistics and Programme Implementation, Government of India, Shri KH. Munyappa, Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Government of India Shri D.T. Jayakumar, Minister for Tourism, GOK Shri H.S. Mahadeva Prasad, Minister for Food and Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs Shri Tanveer Sait, Minister for Labour and Haj, GOK, Shri M.V. Rajasheara Murthy, Minister of State for Planning, Government of India and others.
Speaking on the occasion the Minister for Civil Aviation, Shri Praful Patel expressed happiness that this was a first of such kind of project involving a partnership approach between a State and the Centre. He congratulated the Government of Karnataka for being the pioneers in starting new models of airports including the Mysore model, the MoU for which signed today, and the first Greenfield Airport of the country coming up at Bangalore. He said that Karnataka had set the pace for Civil Aviation reforms in the country. The Minister also assured the Karnataka Government that developmental work in Hassan and Gulbarga Airport would start very soon.
Emphasizing on internal air connectivity within the State, he said that this was essential for equitable distribution of development within it. For this he called upon all States and especially the Government of Karnataka to enter into Joint Ventures with the Indian public carriers, Indian Airlines or its subsidiary, to give connectivity within the State. This could be at least for the initial period till air-traffic picked up. He said that this would be along the North East model - the North Eastern Council has given a budgetary support for four ATR aircrafts to the public carriers for ensuring connectivity within the North Eastern States. The Maharashtra Government was also in dialogue with the Ministry of Civil Aviation for a similar Joint Venture to increase air connectivity within Maharashtra. This, the Minister said, would usher in a new era of Civil Aviation in the country.
MC/GK
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