Union minister Jayant Sinha recently said the number of air passengers in the country has gone up to more than 10 crore, which is higher than railway passengers travelling in AC coaches.
The Union minister of State for Civil Aviation said the number of air passengers would increase further as the government intends to set up more airports in the country including in Jharkhand to improve air connectivity.
Prime minister Narendra Modi had recently laid foundation of an international airport in Deoghar, which would help attract tourists thus giving boost to tourism sector of the state, he told reporters here. The government also has plan to set up airports in Hazaribag, Bokaro, Dhanbad and Dumka to improve air connectivity, Sinha said. Birsa Munda airport in Ranchi has been developed as one of the best airports in small cities, while the Deoghar airport would be modern airport of the state with all necessary facilities for fliers as well as for operation of air traffic, he said.
Meanwhile, the Vadodara airport authorities have sought permission from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for operating the facility round-the-clock.
The city is also set to host dignitaries from several countries in October for the inauguration of the 182-metre tall ‘Statue of Unity’, dedicated to India’s first Home minister Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, in the neighbouring Narmada district, about 90 km from here. In view of these developments, the authorities have written a letter to AAI seeking permission for operating the facility round-the-clock.
“The priority is to improve the facilities for passengers and increase the cargo transport. In the last couple of years, the number of aircraft landing at the Vadodara airport has considerably increased and the passenger traffic has also gone up. Vadodara will get more domestic connectivity from the new integrated terminal building from September,” said Singh.