‘International’ tag for Mangalore airport sought

The Hindu

• Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry wants Mangalore airport to be named Ullal Srinivas Mallya Airport.

 

Mangalore, 20 January 2011: As Mangalore Airport turns 60, the local industry and trade body wants the Government of India to give the “international airport” tag to the Mangalore airport. The industry association also wants the airport to be renamed and the runway to be extended.

 

 

“Other than the ‘international airport’ tag, we want the Government to announce the name of the airport as “Ullal Srinivas Mallya Airport”, said Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) president G.G. Mohandas Prabhu. He said, “If Tirupati can have an international airport tag, why not the Mangalore airport?”

 

Besides this, another demand is to extend the length of the runway in the Mangalore airport from the current 8,000 ft to 11,000 ft so that Boeing 737 and 747 can land and take off.

 

Mr. Prabhu said that a meet to mark the Diamond Jubilee milestone of the Mangalore Airport, on February 4, 2011, will focus particularly on these issues. Praful Patel, Minister for Civil Aviation, had agreed to attend the event, he added. But with Vayalar Ravi replacing Mr.Patel as Minister for Civil Aviation following the Cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, Mr. Prabhu said an invitation to attend the meet will now be sent to Mr. Ravi.

 

M. Veerappa Moily, Minister of Law and Justice, has also agreed to attend while , Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa, MPs, MLCs and MLAs of Karnataka, besides representatives from the industry s have been invited, he said.