Surat's development to take wings

When the Bhavnagar-bound Air Deccan flight from Mumbai touches down in Surat in July, it will mark the beginning of a new era in the region's development. It will also fulfill the long-pending demand of placing Surat on the air map of the country.

The forty-seater Air Deccan flight take-off from Mumbai at 3:00 pm and reach Surat at 3:50 pm. The flight will take-off from Surat at 4:10 pm and reach Bhavnagar at 4:30 pm. The return flight will take-off at 4:45 pm from Bhavngar and will reach Mumbai at 5:30 pm.

Though the date has not been decided as yet, sources close to the development said that Air Deccan may start operating from July 1 or 2. The no-frill airways will charge Rs 1,200 for the Surat-Bhavnagar sector, the rate on the Bhavnagar-Surat-Mumbai will be Rs 1,800.

A team of Air Deccan, led by chief revenue officer John Kuruvilla, called on the members of the Southern Gujarat Chamber of Commerce & Industry on Saturday.

Giving details, the chamber president Dinesh Mandalaywala, said, "We welcome the move to start the Mumbai-Surat-Bhavnagar flight. Like us, the Air Deccan officials are also very confident that the service would be very successful.

"The Air Deccan officials assured us that air services from Surat would be extended to cities such as Delhi, Chennai, Bangalore, Kolkata, Jaipur, Hyderabad, etc. soon," said Mandalaywala.

"We realise that current facilities at the Surat airport are not sufficient for starting flights of big planes. The runway needs to be strengthened, a new terminal building is required, night landing facility needs to be set-up. We are confident that Airports Authority of India will start work on the Surat airport so that Surat is placed on the country's air map," Mandalaywala added.