| THE United Progressive Alliance (UPA) Government has decided to develop international airports at Navi Mumbai, Pune, Goa and Ludhiana with public-private participation. Besides, the Government would also upgrade and develop world-class air connectivity at 25 non-metros.
Addressing a gathering after the foundation laying ceremony of the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport, Mr Praful Patel, Minister of State for Civil Aviation, said the Government was committed to develop world-class ports, airports and roads.
The airport, to come up in Shamshabad, about 30 kms from the heart of the city, is being developed by GMR group and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad. The State and Central Governments hold 13 per cent stake each in the Rs 1,418-crore project.
Ms Sonia Gandhi, Chairperson of the National Advisory Council, UPA and President of Congress Party, laid the foundation stone for the airport. She said international airports would mean increased jobs, business opportunities and foreign exchange. Tourism too would thrive with increased connectivity to places of tourist interest.
Earlier, she inaugurated an exhibition on `Aviation in the Deccan' and a mobile medical unit.
Mr G.M. Rao, Chairman of GMR Group, said the airport would have the longest runway in India with a length of 4.26 km. With a width of 60 metres, the airport could handle new generation wide-bodied aircraft like Airbus A-380. It would also comprise a separate cargo terminal with a capacity to handle one lakh tonnes of cargo a year. Besides, it would have a provision for a first-of-its-kind terminal to carry low-cost carriers.
The company expected to complete financial closure by July and begin commercial operations by 2008.
When this happened, the existing airport at Begumpet would cease to operate civilian aircraft.
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