Except for waterbodies, land acquisition for Madurai airport over: Virudhunagar MP
The Hindu
MPs, non-officials from Madurai meet Union Minister for Civil Aviation to push for 24x7 airport operation. Centre had notified April 2023 for commencement, but lack of CISF personnel delayed it. Expansion of airport underway, boundary wall to be completed by Dec 2023. Air India Express to increase frequency of Madurai-Singapore flight from Oct 22. Centre rejected sub-way proposal for runway extension, proposed to divert Ring Road instead.
Members of Parliament from southern districts and non-official members of Madurai Airport Advisory Committee would meet the Union Minister for Civil Aviation in December to impress upon making 24x7 operation of Madurai airport.
After chairing the Madurai Airport Advisory Committee meeting here on Tuesday, Virudhunagar MP B. Manickam Tagore said that the Centre had been dragging the issue of round-the-clock operation of Madurai airport for long.
“First it said the runway needs to be ready, then it said that airlines should come forward for night operation and also to augument the strength of CISF personnel at Madurai Airport. The Centre had also notified that Madurai airport would begin 24x7 operation from April 2023, but it was not implemented citing the lack of adequate number of CISF personnel,” he said.
He complained that the Centre was neglecting Madurai.
Only commencement of round-the-clock operation will attract more airlines to fly to Madurai, he added.
He also said that except for 89 acres of land, all land had been acquired for expansion of the airport. “Tamil Nadu Government was working to get environmental clearance for acquiring the waterbodies,” he added. Stating that construction of boundary wall of the airport was under way and is expected to be completed by December 2023, he said once the wall work is completed, the runway extension work can be taken up.
The Centre had rejected the proposal of providing a sub-way for Madurai-Thoothukudi/Tirunelveli Ring Road closer to the airport for extension of the runway. “The sub-way work would incur an exorbitant cost of ₹ 600 crore and hence, the Centre had proposed to divert the Ring Road,” he added.
“We are judges and therefore, cannot act like Mughals of a bygone era ... the writ courts in the guise of doing justice cannot transcend the barriers of law,” the High Court of Karnataka observed while setting aside an order of a single judge, who in 2016 had extended the lease of a public premises allotted to a physically challenged person to 20 years contrary to 12-year period stipulated in the law.
The High Court of Karnataka on Monday declined to interfere, at present, in the investigation against a Bharatiya Janata Party worker, who is among the accused persons facing charges of circulating obscene clips, related to “morphed” images and videos clips related to Prajwal Revanna, former Hassan MP, in public domain through pen drives and other modes.
The 16th edition of Bhoomi Habba was held on June 8, at the Visthar campus. The festival drew a vibrant crowd who came together to celebrate eco-consciousness through a variety of engaging activities, creative workshops, panel discussions, interactive exhibits and performances, all centered around this year’s theme: “Save Water, Save Lives.”