M. A. Aleem, another member of the Advisory Committee appealed to the Airports Authority of India to name the Tiruchi international airport after Nobel Laureate Sir C.V. Raman. He also appealed for operation of e-bus services from the airport to different areas in the city up to Srirangam.in The Hindu Trichy on 8.11.2019

Cong MP condemns move to privatise Tiruchi airport

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

TIRUCHI, NOVEMBER 08, 2019 00:00 IST

UPDATED: NOVEMBER 08, 2019 05:20 IST

Congress Member of Parliament of Tiruchi Su. Thiruvanavukkarasar on Thursday condemned the Centre’s proposed move to privatise six more airports including Tiruchi.

Mr. Thiruvanavukkarasar, who is also the chairman of the Tiruchi Airport Advisory Committee, told reporters ahead of the first meeting of the committee held here that Tiruchi international airport was running on profit. The predominant view was that the profit-making Tiruchi airport should not be privatised as it would affect employees.

He said the Centre under Prime Minister Narendra Modi was showing keen interest in privatising several public sector undertakings. The plan was also to privatise railway stations and trains. The Congress MP said privatisation of six airports had been completed adding that the Central government was trying to privatise six more airports including Tiruchi under phase-II which was condemnable.

Mr. Thiruvanavukkarasar said he was already in touch with officials in New Delhi regarding important demands pertaining to growth and development of Tiruchi international airport, including runway expansion, introduction of flights to Mumbai and Delhi and augmenting connectivity to more overseas destinations besides other demands. He would reinforce these demands in the Parliament.

The meeting saw a plethora of demands, including expansion of runway and launching of flights to more domestic and foreign destinations put forth. The meeting was attended by Airport Director K. Gunasekaran, Airports Authority of India officials and members of Advisory Committee.

Achhar Singh, an advisory committee member in a memorandum said the urgent need of the airport was to increase the length of the runway from 8,136 feet to 12,500 feet. The present runway was unable to handle wide-bodied aircraft and cargo flights. He also pleaded for night parking facility at the airport to boost connectivity.

M. A. Aleem, another member of the Advisory Committee appealed to the Airports Authority of India to name the Tiruchi international airport after Nobel Laureate Sir C.V. Raman. He also appealed for operation of e-bus services from the airport to different areas in the city up to Srirangam.