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| Stakeholders keen on flights to Mysore |
| BS Reporter / Chennai/ Mysore Dec 21, 2009, 00:00 IST |
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While commercial operators are shying away from the ready-to-operate Mysore Airport, stakeholders meeting here have decided to constitute a coordination committee to initiate action towards operation of flights.
They also decided to meet the chief minister in this regard and also ensure that the state government fulfills its part of the responsibility. Mysore MP A H Viswanath, who presided over the meeting, said at the meeting attended by representatives of different sectors of the city he would take up the issue with the Union minister for civil aviation on inaugurating the airport. He had broached the matter with him. The state government, however, was yet to fulfill its responsibilities, he said.
The upgraded Mandakalli Airport was ready in mid-September. Supported by the state government, Kingfisher Airlines operated a few special flights during the Dasara. Subsequently, none of the commercial operators have shown interest in operating regular flights.
Mysore-based Airports Authority of India (AAI) general manager Rajiv Gupta said the operators had not responded positively to the letters from the AAI so far. It had suggested linking a few other centres with Mysore for viable operation. The operators expected support from the state government by way of a cut in tax on aviation fuel. Mysore Chamber of Commerce & Industry secretary Raghavendra said the VAT levy was about 20 per cent.
Infosys HRD head (Mysore) Arun Nayar said a large number of their employees preferred to travel by air. Around 800 of them traveled from Mysore to other centres every week.
Similarly, a large number of clients visited the Bangalore centre. For the lack of regular air link, the employees took to other modes of transport while the clients were not visiting Mysore.
Software Paradigms India vice-president V Madhukar endorsed the views of Nayar and said stakeholders should back the operators. Operation of regular flights linking prominent places in South India like Bangalore, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mangalore would benefit the operators.
Travel consultant G B Panth said the Kingfisher Airlines had shown interest in Mysore-Chennai operation, while the Jet Airways between Mysore-Delhi with a stopover at Bangalore.
On the tourism potential, Karnataka Tourism Department assistant director N
Jayaram said, around 2.5 million tourists visited Mysore annually. They included over 50,000 visitors from abroad. Around 100,000 people depended on the tourism industry, which had a turnover of about Rs 250 crore.
The issue would be taken up with the State Principal Secretary of Tourism during a meeting next week, added Mysore Chamber of Commerce & Industry president R Krishna.
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