Karnataka to rebuild Kalaburgi greenfield Airport

Bengaluru: The State government will soon take up the task of completing the much-delayed Kalaburagi green-field airport project.
Replying to a debate on the state budget, Siddaramaiah said new tenders will be floated soon to take up the work on the project which has remained suspended for over 3 years now.
The CM renewed promise came in the backdrop of his meeting with leader of the Congress in the Lok Sabha M Mallikarjun Kharge who sought more funds from the state government for projects in Hyderabad-Karnataka region. Soon after the meeting, Kharge had supported Siddaramaiah's decision to set up the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) recently. Siddaramaiah also announced take up two other projects including the development of railway line
31/03/16 Manu Aiyappa/Times of India

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Flying in and out of Mumbai to get costlier due to scarcity of landing slots

New Delhi: Flying in and out of Mumbai is set to get expensive, because the city's airport has run out of landing slots, threatening to create a demand-supply mismatch soon with the nation's airline passenger traffic growing at 20 per cent annually.

The Mumbai airport hasn't allowed addition of any new flights from the summer schedule that began this month, airline executives said. This at a time when carriers announced an 18.6 per cent increase in flights on domestic routes during the summer schedule.

With airlines following dynamic pricing, not enough services to meet passenger traffic in Mumbai could drive up the cost of air travel to India's commercial capital.

"Failure to add capacity from the Mumbai airport, which is India's second largest airport, can badly impact the growth of the sector," said asenior airline executive, who didn't want to be named.
31/03/16 Mihir Mishra/Economic Times

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Additional levy of upto Rs 120 at Mumbai airport from April 1

Mumbai: Flying out of the Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport here is set to get costlier with an additional levy of up to Rs 120, to fund the metro rail connectivity to the aerodrome, coming into effect from Friday. Tariff regulator Airports Economic Regulatory Authority (AERA) had in January this year allowed Mumbai International Airport Limited (MIAL) to charge an additional levy of Rs 20 from each domestic flier and Rs 120 from each international traveller as development fee to fund a metro rail project.
The additional levy would be applicable from April 1, 2016 and remain in force till March 31, 2021, AERA had said in its order. MIAL is a 26:74 joint venture between the GVK group led consortium and the Airports Authority of India. The private airport operator currently levies a development fee of Rs 600 from an international passenger and Rs 100 from a domestic traveller. MIAL had last year sought AERA’s permission to charge additional development fee, to fund the metro rail project.
Mumbai Metro Rail Corporation (MMRC), the project implementing company for all metro rail corridors across the western metropolis, is to construct a 32.5-km underground line, connecting Colaba in South Mumbai to SEEPZ in western Andheri suburb.
31/03/16 PTI/Indian Express

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Chandigarh airport to be named after Bhagat Singh; Haryana Assembly gives green signal

Chandigarh: The Haryana Assembly on Thursday unanimously passed a resolution to name Chandigarh airport after freedom struggle icon Shaheed Bhagat Singh.
As soon as the Question Hour ended, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Ram Bilas Sharma moved the resolution in this regard.
Later, it was unanimously passed with ruling BJP and main opposition Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) MLAs supporting it.
Opposition Congress MLAs were not present as they have not been attending the assembly session to protest the six-month suspension of their three MLAs for tearing copies of the Governor's address.
On the resolution passed on Thursday, Sharma told the House that the state government would soon write to the Union Civil Aviation ministry in this regard.
31/03/16 PTI/First Post

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Nothing to declare? Flyers not to fill customs form from tomorrow

New Delhi: Passengers coming to India and not carrying dutiable goods will not have to fill up customs declaration form from tomorrow.
Flyers carrying prohibited and dutiable goods will only be filling up such declaration form, which was earlier mandatory for all passengers coming to the country.
The move is part of a new and simplified measure announced by Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while presenting the Budget for 2016-17.
All passengers who come to India and have anything to declare or carrying dutiable or prohibited goods need to fill up the 'Indian Customs Declaration Form', as per the new rules which will come into force from tomorrow.
All necessary arrangements have been made to ensure that new customs rules are followed properly, said Sanjay Mangal, Commissioner of Customs at Indira Gandhi International Airport here today.
31/03/16 PTI/Economic Times

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Delhi airport's top sniffer dog Sweety battles cancer

New Delhi: She has been a hero. She has been part of more than 150 operations at the sensitive Delhi airport. Her nose has been just perfect.
She has been a hero. She has been part of more than 150 operations at the sensitive Delhi airport. Her nose has been just perfect.
However, diagnosed with cancer recently, Sweety- the top sniffer dog guarding the airport as part of the CISF dog squad for nearly a decade-is now due for a painful retirement.
Her mammary tumour, which is malignant, was noticed during a training session as she was not in her usual, jovial self. "Doctors told us that she has cancer and it will take time to remove the tumour. After analysing for almost five days, an immediate surgery was required for which we took her to Bareilly where she was operated," said her handler Mohan Singh.
Until a few months ago, Sweety-a light brown-coloured Labrador-was often seen walking around the Delhi airport, alert as always in detecting anything suspicious. Now, she spends most her time in a secluded air-conditioned room away from the clamour of the airport.
31/03/16 Mail Today

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Isro to help AAI for airports' construction

Chennai:The Department of Space (DoS) to sign a MoU with Airports Authority of India (AAI) to provide scientific parameters for airports' construction. It will also provide data on the landscape around the airports.The department will also sign MoU with Department of Posts, where the space technology will be helpful in the tracking the movement of a parcel.

The Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) of the Ministry of Development of North Eastern Region (DoNER), MoS PMO, Personnel, Public Grievances, Pensions, Atomic Energy and Space, Jitendra Singh said that Isro will help by providing scientific parameters for airports' construction.

It will also provide data on the landscape around the airports. The space technology will help in making the flights safer and provide the optimum utilisation of the land, he added.

In the field of aviation sector, the minister said that the use of space technology is being done on pilot basis in the Hyderabad and Port Blair airport. Based on the experience of these pilot projects, the space technology will be utilised in 42 airports in future.
31/03/16 Business Standard

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Expedite airport expansion works: Collector

Vijayawada: District collector Babu A has directed the officials to take the help of APTransco, if need be, to shift the utilities which come in the way of runway expansion at Gannavaram airport.
Inspecting the works here on Wednesday, the collector said that the district administration will offer all its assistance to ensure faster completion of the airport expansion. "As the airport is growing in prominence, it is important to complete the works at the earliest to facilitate international operations. If necessary, take the assistance of APTransco in moving the utilities," he said.
On the occasion, the officials at the airport informed him that 50 per cent works of the passenger travel building have been completed. The collector made a few suggestions in carrying out the works and told the officials to ensure completion of the works at the earliest.
31/03/16 Times of India

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Now, airport app for iPhones

Chennai: Airports Authority of India has launched its mobile app for iOs operating system for iPhones. The app which was first launched on September 15, 2015 for android, provides information about the airport, rules and guidelines, parking, charges for various facilities including gate information was introduced for iOs on March 16.
The app also works as a feedback mechanism. Passengers will be able to make complaints to airport officials. Contact numbers of senior officers have also been provided. It allows passengers to access websites of airlines and find out arrival and departure timings. tnnAirport director Deepak Shastri said that there were 1000downloads for the app since it was launched and had received good reviews from users. A Version 2.0 of the app containing real-time features will be launched soon, he added.
31/03/16 Times of India

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Flight delay piques travellers at Dabolim

Vasco: Passengers' tempers ran high at the Dabolim international airport on Monday evening after a SpiceJet flight was delayed by four hours, compelling airport authorities to summon the Dabolim airport police to take stock of the situation.

Official sources said the SpiceJet flightwhich originated from Kolkatawas scheduled to arrive at Dabolim at 5.30pm on Monday after making a stop-over at Mumbai. "But, due to another plane needing to make an emergency landing at Mumbai, the SpiceJet flight was diverted to Ahmedabad. This is why its arrival into Goa was delayed by four hours," they added.
Annoyed that they weren't given a proper reason for the flight's delay, passengers began confronting SpiceJet's ground staff a couple of hours later. Pre-empting a law and order situation, the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) summoned the Dabolim police into the terminal building. The situation was brought under control by 8.30pm.
31/03/16 Times of India

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Airport’s runway bridge causing floods, say Manapakkam residents

Chennai: The Chennai airport's runway bridge across the Adyar river is hampering the free flow of water, causing flooding in neighbourhoods on its north-western side during heavy rain, say residents of Manapakkam in a petition to the state government. The bridge was built to extend the airport's second runway so that more flights could be handled. But despite warnings, the likelihood of an adverse impact on areas like Manapakkam was not taken into consideration before construction, the residents charged.
A senior official of the Public Works Department (PWD) said, "We have surveyed the area near the bridge and are in the process of studying its impact on the water flow after the airport and its neighbourhood were inundated when water was released from Chembarambakkam reservoir in the first week of December last year."
Houses in Manapakkam were submerged during the flood as the water level rose to more than five feet. The bridge has 477 pillars built close to one another. Soil dug up during construction was not removed and affected the level of river bed near the airport. The river was dry when the bridge was built.
30/03/16 Times of India

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MADC board clears city airport development tender

Nagpur: The board of Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) has cleared the tender document for city airport's development. The decision was taken in the meeting held on Tuesday.
Announcing the decision in the legislative council, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the request for qualification (RFQ) document was on the lines of that for Navi Mumbai airport. "Now bids will be invited from private parties for development of the airport," he said.

The strategic private partner will have to undertake development works to the tune of at least Rs1,420 crore in the beginning. The bidding process will be hinging on this amount which has been calculated on the basis of basic works to be carried out in the first phase.
Earlier, replying to queries in legislative assembly, the CM said that the project affected persons (PAPs) having their plots and houses outside the Shivangaon gaothan limit will be treated at par with those having plots inside it.
31/03/16 Ashish Roy/Times of India

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Mysore Silk sarees to be sold at KIAB's domestic terminal

Bengaluru: For passengers travelling through the domestic terminal of the Kempegowda International Airport Bengaluru (KIAB), there will now be made available an entire range of Mysore Silk sarees at the retail section of the airport. Partnering with the Bengaluru International Airport Limited (BIAL), the Karnataka Silk Industries Corporation (KSIC) will be setting up at the domestic terminal of the airport from April 1st. "This is a one of a kind venture and we are promoting it as part of imbibing the culture of South India into the aesthetics of the airport terminal," said BIAL officials.
As BIAL welcomed its hundred millionth passenger on March 18, a celebration for the same was conducted at the airport on Wednesday, with a focus on retail trends at the KIAB. BIAL sources stated, "The KIAB is growing at a rapid rate and the retail trends have begun to surpass that of in airports at Delhi and Mumbai as well." With an enhancement to their 'sense of place' zone, passengers entering the terminal after security check are given a taste of South India with thematic retail shops and food outlets.
30/03/16 Deepika Burli/Times of India

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Glass panel collapses in airport, none hurt

In yet another incident, glass panels ofa door collapsed and fell near the check in area of the domesticterminal at the airport here today. Airport sources said women passengers were being frisked by the security officials when the glass panels caved in. However, no on was injured in the incident. This was for the 57th time the glass panels had collapsedat the airport which was modernised at a cost of several crores.
30/03/16 UNI/WebIndia123

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The strange case of an Indian citizen of Nepali origin and his “fake” passport

A Bengaluru man of Nepali origin has alleged that his passport was taken away by the police, a week after airport officials allegedly harassed him and cheated him of money.

On Monday, Beeru Bahadur (31) approached a senior police officer for help with his passport as airport officials had earlier claimed that it was a fake and questioned his citizenship.

However, when he met the officer, his passport was “cancelled” and the officer said Beeru needed a document from Delhi to prove his citizenship.

Beeru, however, says he was born in Bengaluru in 1985 and has studied up to Class 10 in the city. Under Indian citizenship law, any person born in India between January 26, 1950 and July 1, 1987 would be granted citizenship automatically. Different rules apply to people born in India after 1987.

When The News Minute contacted the officer in question, the officer denied any knowledge of Beeru.

Coupled with the events of the last week at Bengaluru airport, Beeru is a thoroughly confused man.
30/03/16 Sarayu Srinivasan/News Minute

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143 rescued tortoises to be sent back to Madagascar

Mumbai: The Wildlife Crime Control Bureau's (WCCB) western regional office will soon send 143 of the 146 endangered tortoises, which were seized by Customs at the Mumbai International Airport on March 21, to Madagascar in Africa. The Convention of International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), Madagascar, has agreed and confirmed to take back the animals.

While three of the 146 had died, the rest were kept at the Karnala bird sanctuary.

Meanwhile, Nepal authorities have been asked to file a case against Nepalese citizen Lal Babu Thakur (32) as per CITES as he was carrying the tortoises in his baggage.
31/03/16 Umesh K Parida/Times of India

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Gold, cash seized from passengers at airport

Chennai: Officials of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) today seized about2.5 kg gold bars, valued at Rs 85 lakhs, from a passenger who arrived here from Abu Dhabi at the Anna International airport here this morning. Airport sources said, the DRI officials, acting onintelligence, checked the hand baggage of the passenger and seized the gold bars. He was being questioned to ascertain the sourceof the gold and to whom he was carrying. The passenger, identified as Paramath, was a native of Kerala. In another incident, two people, bound for Singapore, were detained for carrying Rs 18 lakh cash without valid documents. The duo--Buhari and Khaja Moideen--hailing from Madurai were being questioned by the customs authorities.
31/03/16 UNI/WebIndia123

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AP woman held with 2.5kg ganja

Chennai: Customs official seized 2.5kg ganja which was found abandoned at the international terminal of Chennai airport on Wednesday.
A 38-year-old woman from Andhra Pradesh who was waiting to board a flight to Kuwait was detained in this connection after a CCTV grab showed her abandoning the package before reaching security check.
Airport officials who found the package inspected it and found that it contained contraband and the checked CCTV footage.
31/03/16 Times of India

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Hijackers can't attack Indian airports: Security officials

The security agencies managing civil aviation in India are of the view that though there are no chances of an Egypt Air-like hijacking situation in India, nothing, nonetheless, can be ruled out.
All the personnel and security officials dna spoke to did so on the condition of anonymity.

A domestic Egypt Air flight, MS181, was hijacked and forcefully diverted to Larnaca airport in Cyprus after taking off from Borg El Arab airport on Tuesday. The hijacker told the passengers and crew members that he is wearing a suicide belt laden with explosives. He later surrendered himself to government authorities after sustained negotiations.
A high-ranking official of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF), which is tasked with airport security, said that the issue of security is like a cat-and-mouse game. "However, if something like 9/11 is possible in the US, which had till then boasted about its foolproof security, then anything is possible," he added.
Another senior officer from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), which manages most of the civil aviation airports in India, said that the security hold area at airports in well-equipped to detect any kind of explosives. "Anybody carrying any kind of explosives will definitely get caught," he said.
30/03/16 Shahkar Abidi/Daily News & Analysis

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Airport hoax call mystery: Abdul Razzaq's name in 4 recent calls

New Delhi: Almost every hoax call across the nation's airports after the Brussels terror attack had a mention of this name, triggering alarm and frantic searches. Callers alerting about possible terror attacks by ISIS and other groups attribute the information to this supposedly Pakistani man.
But intelligence officials are clueless about him.
While none of the callers has been traced yet, officials said Razzaq's name was taken in four recent calls giving information about a possible attack at the Delhi airport.
Agencies admit he may be a fictitious person, but are unwilling to take chances by not taking the calls seriously. Also, it is possible that one person is calling repeatedly using Razzaq's name.
According to a senior Delhi Police officer, identifying these callers is extremely difficult as these voice calls were made through Internet. Apart from Delhi, Chennai airport has also received a call which mentioned Abdul Razzaq as the person planning an attack.
"Soon after the Brussels attack, there was a call at the Jet Airways call centre in Delhi claiming bombs have been planted in five of its flights originating from the Capital," a senior airport official said, requesting anonymity. "During this call, the caller said that he got information from Razzaq about the bomb. He also said there is another plan for Delhi. Later, the call was found to be hoax."
30/03/16 India Today

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