Commissioning of the airport: Tharoor not keen

Thiruvananthapuram: After the Sate Government expressing its reservations in a pre-inaugural commissioning of the new terminal of the Thiruvananthapuram Airport, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor has also expressed concern over the move to commission the airport on December 12.
Tharoor said that it was unfair to collect user fee from passengers while the matter is still pending final decision. He also said that since the facilities for cargo are not in place, it may affect the exports from the state.
Addressing reporters here on Sunday, Tharoor said that user fee should be levied only after the Airports Economic Regulatory Authority Appellate Tribunal takes a decision on the matter. The tribunal is scheduled to hold a sitting here on January 12. Passengers of budget airlines should at least be exempted from user fee, he said.
The Airports Economic Regulatory Authority had earlier issued orders to collect user fee of Rs 750 from each embarking passenger at the new terminal from the date of commissioning of the new terminal.
Tharoor also said that facilities for cargo movement from the new terminal were not in place. It may take more than one month for the works on strengthening the perimetre road to be completed.
06/12/10 ExpressBuzz

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Categories: Airports Dec 2010, New Dec 2010