Mysore airport expansion put on hold

Mysore: The city's hopes to fly high have been grounded. The state governmenthas told the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to put on hold phase-II of the Mysore Airport project that aimed at getting the emerging mini-metro wider bodied aircrafts.
After dithering for months to get the airport off the ground, the government is now having second thoughts on phase-II. This, when 188 acres land has been acquired and handed over to the AAI for expansion.
The workable airport that opened to commercial flights some three months ago is posting good originating passenger figures with flights from Mysore netting 70 per cent occupancy. Even as the stake holders including AAI were upbeat over the passenger response putting to rest the initial apprehensions in the airline industry, the AAI is told to put on hold the expansion plans. The decision is attributed to economic viability, sources told The Times of India.
The AAI that had signed an agreement with the state government for the development of the facility in 2005 is seeking to expand the airport to tap the potential. It had indicated its readiness to take up phase-II and had worked out a 24-month schedule to complete the works. The bigger facility is designed to accommodate boeings and Airbuses. Now, the government's directive has left the AAI worried too. It is taking up the issue with senior officials.
15/12/10 Times of India

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Categories: Airports Dec 2010