Raviprasad Kamila for The Hindu Daily
MANGALORE, May 3: The 54-year-old Bajpe Airport in Mangalore has received a boost with the Union Government declaring it a customs airport on May 3. This makes it the second customs airport in the State, after Bangalore.
It will now be able to handle operation of flights to international destinations.Air India Express, Air India's low-cost airline, has proposed to start a Mangalore-Dubai service from the airport.
As the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has stepped up efforts to provide infrastructure for customs and immigrations counters, it will be able to allow Air India Express operate its first flight on May 21.
On Thursday, AAI gave final touches to the six counters for immigration clearance. It has set up a room for the Deputy Superintendent of Police (Immigration), a server room, and a deportee room for immigration officials. National Informatics Centre has supplied ten computers to the AAI for immigration clearance.
AAI has taken up work on fixing lights to provide night-landing facilities on the new runway, the second one at the airport. The 2,450-metre long and 46-metre wide concrete runway will be ready for commissioning soon, sources in the AAI told The Hindu .
AAI has kept a mobile tower ready for Air Traffic Control.
Air India Express' first flight from Dubai will land at Bajpe Airport at 8.20 p.m. and leave for Dubai at 9.20 p.m. on May 21.
On the Centre's notification, A. Srinivasa Rao, president of Kanara Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) told The Hindu that it was a wonderful move.
"We expect heavy rush of non-resident Indian passengers at the airport shortly. It is an added advantage to exports.''
Hand over land immediately for airport lounge'
B. Janardhana Poojary, who is a member of a parliamentary committee on civil aviation, has appealed to the State Government to immediately hand over the land for the new arrival lounge for the Mangalore Airport.
Speaking to The Hindu, Mr. Poojary on Thursday welcomed the customs airport status accorded to Mangalore Airport. He said this was cleared in the meeting of the committee in Delhi last week where the members observed that the State Government was dillydallying on acquiring the required land.
He thanked the Civil Aviation Ministry and the External Affairs Ministry for clearing the customs facility for the airport
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