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RV Deshpande wants speedy approvals for second runway
Karnataka industries and infrastructure minister RV Deshpande on Tuesday met Union civil aviation minister Ashok Gajapati Raju and MoS (civil aviation) Jayant Sinha and requested speedy statutory clearances from the Centre for the second runway at the Kempegowda International Airport in view of the airport exceeding its passenger capacity.
“The airport has already achieved the passenger traffic projected for 2020,“ Deshpande told reporters on the sidelines of “Make in Karnataka“ conference, here. In calendar 2016, the passenger traffic at the airport grew by 22.5%, recording a passenger traffic of 22.18 million. “The Bengaluru airport is of world class, and the airport regulator, the Airport Regulatory Authority of India (AERA) is studying costs.The second runway proposal is pending clearance at AERA,“ the minister said.
Deshpande also held preliminary talks with JSW Group officials on opening up their private airport at Vijayanagar in Ballari district for passenger traffic by allowing regional carriers to use it. This is as per the Centre’s regional aviation policy which includes using private airports for promoting regional air transport, the minister said.
The JSW Group will study the suggestion and revert, Deshpande said. The airport will be of great use to people visiting the district which is home to a large number of steel and sponge iron industries. A private airport in minister Jayant Sinha’s home state of Jharkhand is successfully opened up for passenger traffic, he added. The Hubli airport is technically ready to receive airbus aircraft and only regulatory clearances are pending. The airport has extended its runway to enable wide-body aircraft to land. Belgaum airport too will be ready to receive wide-body aircraft in about eight months time, the minister said.
The 3000-acre aerospace park near Devanahalli airport, Deshpande said, is getting quality investments, and the government is providing incentives and concessions to investors setting up units at this sprawling park. About 65% of India’s aerospace exports happen out of Karnataka, he added. Mel Blount Womens Jersey
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