ZERO HOUR SPEECH OF P.WILSON MP IN RAJYA SABHA ON THE URGENT NEED TO MODERNISE AIRPORTS IN TAMILNADU Hon’ble Chairman, Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I rise today to bring to the attention of Hon’ble Minister for Civil Aviation through this August House the need to modernise various Airports in Tamil Nadu in order to cater to the needs of the industries, trade and commerce and tourism sectors and for the benefit of private citizens.

ZERO HOUR SPEECH OF P.WILSON MP IN RAJYA SABHA ON

THE URGENT NEED TO MODERNISE AIRPORTS IN TAMILNADU

Hon’ble Chairman, Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I rise today to bring to the attention of Hon’ble Minister for Civil Aviation through this August House the need to modernise various Airports in Tamil Nadu in order to cater to the needs of the industries, trade and commerce and tourism sectors and for the benefit of private citizens.

Sir, there is a quote – a mile of a highway will take you only a mile but a mile of a runway will take you anywhere. So airports are catalysts for economic growth. A state like Tamil Nadu which is in the top 3 of any growth marker therefore deserves and requires world class airports.

Sir, the State’s capital – Chennai – has the highest domestic and international traffic in the State. Yet Chennai’s airport is far from modern, let alone international standard. Sir, Chennai’s airport should be on par with Delhi, Bombay or Bangalore, yet sadly, it is not. Chennai is thus loosing business.

The Ministry of Civil Aviation has to expedite establishment of the planned second airport at Parandur with ultra-modern international facilities so as to make Chennai the commercial hub of South India.

Sir, focus of the Ministry is required not only for Chennai, but also  Madurai, the second largest city in the State of Tamil Nadu. Madurai is the gateway for thirteen southern and central districts including Dindigul, Theni, Virudhunagar, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari. These districts have a total population of 2,32,93,738, which accounts for 29% of the state’s population. Every year lakhs of passengers travel from Madurai to foreign countries. However, due to lack of direct air connectivity to many other international destinations, tourism, export and economic growth has been stunted in the region.  This also results in explosion of traffic in the Chennai Airport. Non-inclusion of the Madurai Airport as a point of call airport for other international destinations by the Ministry has been preventing foreign airliners from operating direct services to Madurai. Several foreign airlines have already requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to address this concern to which no actions have been taken yet. The appointment of the plant current officer at the international cargo terminal of Madurai airport is also pending for a long time, which has hampered export and import via Madurai airport.Sir, Cargo operations are also delayed due to customs. The airport lacks CISF staff and is not working around the clock. However, no steps have been taken in spite of repeated requests to make Madurai an International Airport with such facilities of imports and exports.

Apart from this Sir, the plight of Tiruchirappalli and Coimbatore  International Airports also cause grave concern. As of now these airports have a single asphalt-laid runway. The Tamil Nadu Government has time and again requested for the extension of Trichy Airport runway. The expansion of the Trichy and Coimbatore airport will address the increasing passenger demand and offer a comfortable travel experience for passengers. The terminal in Coimbatore  is pretty old and requires expansion.

The UDAAN scheme covers five airports in Tamilnadu — Salem, Neyveli, Vellore, Ramanad, and Tanjore. It has been five years since  the plan was launched, flight operations have begun only from Salem Airport and there has been no progress in launch of flights from the remaining three cities. There is no progress in establishment of  Hosur Airport. Additionally, there’s a dire need for Unions financial support in the expansion and revamping of the Tuticorin Airport.

Sir, since this is the need of the hour to augment the growth of Tamil Nadu, I request the Hon’ble Union Minister for Civil Aviation through this August House to address the aforementioned issues expeditiously and also inform the status of disbursal of funds for all airports in Tamil Nadu  and the expected date of completion of the aforesaid projects and oblige.

Thank you.