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Surat likely to get full-fledged airport

Union Civil Aviation Minister Anant Kumar announced in Surat on Sunday that a high-power committee will be sent to the town within a month to work out and survey the feasibility of expansion of present air strip at Magdallah about 15 km away from Surat.

Anant Kumar was on a visit to Surat at the instance of the Union Textile Minister Kashiram Rana who represents Surat constituency in the Lok Sabha. Kumar said the Magdalla strip could be developed into a full-fledged airport with high landing facilities.

He said Surat, the second cleanest city of India, should no longer remain unconnected with regular air-links. The Union government is keen that the airport should come up within 18 months after submission of the high-power committee report.

Kumar said the aviation ministry has allocated Rs 1.17 billion for the development of five airports in Gujarat. There are 11 airports including Surat in Gujarat. Town-wise allocations are as follows: Rs 460 million for Ahmedabad, Rs 200 million for Bhuj, Rs 70 million for Vadodara, Rs 80 million for Rajkot and Rs 540 million for Soon.

Kumar added that development vision airport systems and modern air-traffic systems are being looked at by the civil aviation ministry.

UNI