The Hindu : Lucknow, Varanasi airports to be upgraded

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Feb 24, 2004

National

National

Lucknow, Varanasi airports to be upgraded

By Our Special Correspondent

NEW DELHI, FEB. 23. Some of the domestic airports such as Lucknow and Varanasi would be upgraded to international standards, the Minister of State for Civil Aviation, Rajiv Pratap Rudy, said here today. With the growth of air traffic projected to double over the next decade, Mr. Rudy said it was imperative that the country found adequate solutions to fleet operations, airport facilities and safety.

Addressing a seminar on `Operations, Safety and Environment,' organised by the Aeronautical Society of India, the Minister said the Vajpayee Government had given a major push for modernisation of airports and construction of new world class airports. Construction of the new airport at Bangalore had begun and Hyderabad would follow soon, he said. With the international and national traffic, growing at a rate of 8 to 10 per cent annually, there was an urgent need to match the airport infrastructure with the increase in fleet, Mr. Rudy said.

The Minister emphasised the need to synergise utilisation of common infrastructure between military and civil authorities in such a way that investments were optimised by both the players for national growth.

Similarly, Mr. Rudy said there was a great potential in having common training academies, which would have adequate capacity for students and trainees from SAARC and other countries.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National