Utilize AAI assets: Civil aviation secretary

Kolkata: Civil aviation secretary M Madhavan Nambiar has asked chief secretary Asok Mohan Chakrabarti to ensure greater utilization of assets created by the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in the state.
During a meeting at the Writers' Buildings on Friday afternoon, Nambiar called for state initiative to market the modern cargo complex at Kolkata airport and woo low-cost carriers to begin operations to Cooch Behar airport.
"We have given clearance to the Aerotropolis project near Durgapur, but it has to be marketed properly so that it is sustainable. The same applies for Kolkata airport where over Rs 2,000 crore will be invested to enhance capacity from 8 million now to 20 million by March 2011. In a downturn like the one that the industry is facing, utilizing existing capacity to the fullest is critical," he told Chakrabarti.
While AAI has invested over Rs 50 crore in a new cargo terminal, including a state-of-the-art unit for perishable cargo and a huge freezer, the utilization is just over 10%. In fact, cargo movement has reduced by 3% in 2008-09 to 88,000 tonne from 91,000 tonne in 2007-08.
Also, following requests from chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee, the Cooch Behar airport was revamped with an investment of Rs 15 crore, but flights are yet to begin operation a year later.
Now, with a massive investment on the anvil, the ministry is keen to get the government involved in marketing the state so that there is enough traffic to justify the huge investment.
27/06/09 Subhro Niyogi/Times of India

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Categories: NACIL Jun 2009