HC bench orders notice to Aviation ministry, AAI

The Madras High Court today ordered notice to the Civil Aviation Ministry and Airports Authority of India (AAI) on a PIL, seeking clearance for air connectivity to Dubai and Singapore from here.
Petitioner S Vijayakumar said the ministry after inaugurating the Rs 130 crore upgraded new terminus on November 2010, had said flights would be operated to Sri Lanka. However, no permission was granted to operate flights from Madurai to other countries.
As per data, Madurai airport had handled 7,171 passengers in January, whereas, Coimbatore with direct connectivity to Singapore, Dubai and other foreign nations had only 10,134 passengers in January, he pointed out.

Madurai also attracted a large number of domestic and foreign tourists. Though the Singapore government planned to operate flights to Madurai, the ministry rejected it, he said, quoting press reports.
The petitioner had represented to the Secretary of Civil Aviation Ministry on April 9, to reconsider the offer made by the Singapore government. But no action had been taken, he said.
Justices N Paul Vasanthakumar and P Devadass ordered notice and adjourned the case by two weeks.