The Hindu
MANGALORE, Jan 29: Even as the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has added new infrastructure facilities at Bajpe (Mangalore) airport during the last three years, the customers have ranked this airport high in providing services.
As per a customer satisfaction survey of airports by an agency for the AAI, Mangalore Airport has scored the highest ranking in the customer satisfaction index among domestic airports in South India.
The survey covered different aspects of an airport. It included attitude of AAI employees, the police and other security personnel, cleanliness at the airport and general aesthetics, drinking water facilities, guidance signage, flight information system, audio system and quality of trolley services. It also studied other facilities such as car parking, ATM service, post office, illumination, bookstall and other working conditions at the airport.
The survey by the Delhi-based Spectrum Planning (India) Ltd. has said that the customer satisfaction index of Mangalore airport had gone up from 75 per cent to 81 per cent between early 2007 and late 2007.
The first round of survey was conducted between February and April 2007 and the second between August and October.
Among the domestic airports of AAI in South India, Mangalore airport has scored the highest customer satisfaction index, M.R. Vasudeva, director of Mangalore airport, told The Hindu.
The agency interviewed 653 customers during the survey. Of them, 284 people were departing passengers and 234 arriving.
As many as 110 visitors to the airport, 11 concessionaries such as shopkeepers and employees of restaurants at the airport, personnel of seven aircraft operators and seven regulatory authorities were also interviewed.
Facilities
The AAI had built a new air-conditioned arrival hall and extended its departure hall to handle at least 250 passengers at a time at both the halls, last year. Introduction of round-the-clock air traffic services for over flying aircraft, setting up of category I Instrument Landing System (ILS) facility, laying a concrete runway (second one) in addition to the bituminous old run way, opening the airport for flight services to West Asia, converting the airport to a profit earning entity, and introduction exchange facility (by a private agency) are some of the major developments at the airport in the last three years. Aircraft operators introduced new flight services to Mumbai and Bangalore, including a late evening flight to Bangalore.
New flight services began to Goa, Kochi and Kozhikode.
A state-of-the art integrated terminal building and associated facilities are being built at the airport at an estimated cost of Rs. 147 crores.
Tuesday, January 29, 2008
Friday, January 25, 2008
Railway station near Bajpe Airport to be pursued with Railways
The Hindu
MANGALORE Jan 25: The Dakshina Kannada district administration will take up the issue of constructing a railway station at Porkodi near Bajpe Airport with the Southern Railway, district in-charge secretary Bharatlal Meena has said. "Deputy Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao will write to the railway authorities in this regard soon and the State Government will pursue the matter with them," he added.
Briefing presspersons after reviewing the development activities here on Thursday, Mr. Meena said the meeting had considered a request from Airports Authority of India to acquire 55 acres of land for a parallel taxiway and an additional 80 acres to extend the new runway at Bajpe.
"The State Government will meet the cost of land acquisition," Mr. Meena said and added that he would take up the matter with the Infrastructure Department.
Rangamandira
Stating that contractors had not come forward to bid for the construction of Rangamandira at Kadri, Mr. Meena said, "The last date for submitting the bids is January 28. If the impasse continues, the administration may well entrust the task to Karnataka Land Army Corporation."
The engineering division of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat had extended the last date to submit bids for the project four times.
Vented dam
On the second vented dam at Thumbay to meet the drinking water needs of residents of Mangalore, he said Mr. Rao was in touch with the Urban Development Department in that regard. The Karnataka Power Corporation might be asked to construct the dam with the corporation and State Government sharing its estimated cost of Rs. 40 crore equally.
Action plan would be prepared for the rail over-bridges or under-bridges at various locations, including one each at Padil and Jeppu.
The administration had brought the matter to the notice of the Principal Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Mr. Meena said.
Stating that he would take it up with the Railway Ministry, he expressed confidence about the Ministry clearing the proposals.
The Mangalore Urban Development Authority and Mangalore City Corporation would identify the locations for commercial complexes at Hampankatta, Urwa Stores and Urwa Market, Mr. Meena said.
Drinking water
Mr. Rao said the corporation would shortly float expression of interest for the projects to be taken up on a public-private partnership basis. This would help these bodies earn a regular income through the venture, he said.
Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd. had been directed to energise all drinking water projects on priority in view of the impending summer.
In addition, taluks had been told to submit action plans to address water scarcity problem during summer.
Their demands would be projected to the Government for sanctioning additional funds, he said.
Demand for water transportation in certain places through tanker would be considered on priority, he added.
Training for youth
The administration was in touch with the Director of Employment Training to provide vocational education to unemployed youth in the district, Mr. Meena said. "We are contemplating on using the funds from the Ministry of NRI Affairs for training youth who want to work abroad. Steps will be taken to harness the potential of Industrial Training Institutes in providing the training for youth. It will enable the youth to build their career," he added.
MANGALORE Jan 25: The Dakshina Kannada district administration will take up the issue of constructing a railway station at Porkodi near Bajpe Airport with the Southern Railway, district in-charge secretary Bharatlal Meena has said. "Deputy Commissioner M. Maheshwar Rao will write to the railway authorities in this regard soon and the State Government will pursue the matter with them," he added.
Briefing presspersons after reviewing the development activities here on Thursday, Mr. Meena said the meeting had considered a request from Airports Authority of India to acquire 55 acres of land for a parallel taxiway and an additional 80 acres to extend the new runway at Bajpe.
"The State Government will meet the cost of land acquisition," Mr. Meena said and added that he would take up the matter with the Infrastructure Department.
Rangamandira
Stating that contractors had not come forward to bid for the construction of Rangamandira at Kadri, Mr. Meena said, "The last date for submitting the bids is January 28. If the impasse continues, the administration may well entrust the task to Karnataka Land Army Corporation."
The engineering division of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat had extended the last date to submit bids for the project four times.
Vented dam
On the second vented dam at Thumbay to meet the drinking water needs of residents of Mangalore, he said Mr. Rao was in touch with the Urban Development Department in that regard. The Karnataka Power Corporation might be asked to construct the dam with the corporation and State Government sharing its estimated cost of Rs. 40 crore equally.
Action plan would be prepared for the rail over-bridges or under-bridges at various locations, including one each at Padil and Jeppu.
The administration had brought the matter to the notice of the Principal Secretary, Department of Infrastructure, Mr. Meena said.
Stating that he would take it up with the Railway Ministry, he expressed confidence about the Ministry clearing the proposals.
The Mangalore Urban Development Authority and Mangalore City Corporation would identify the locations for commercial complexes at Hampankatta, Urwa Stores and Urwa Market, Mr. Meena said.
Drinking water
Mr. Rao said the corporation would shortly float expression of interest for the projects to be taken up on a public-private partnership basis. This would help these bodies earn a regular income through the venture, he said.
Mangalore Electricity Supply Company Ltd. had been directed to energise all drinking water projects on priority in view of the impending summer.
In addition, taluks had been told to submit action plans to address water scarcity problem during summer.
Their demands would be projected to the Government for sanctioning additional funds, he said.
Demand for water transportation in certain places through tanker would be considered on priority, he added.
Training for youth
The administration was in touch with the Director of Employment Training to provide vocational education to unemployed youth in the district, Mr. Meena said. "We are contemplating on using the funds from the Ministry of NRI Affairs for training youth who want to work abroad. Steps will be taken to harness the potential of Industrial Training Institutes in providing the training for youth. It will enable the youth to build their career," he added.
M'lore: Setting up of Cargo Terminal at Bajpe Airport in Limbo
Indian Express
MANGALORE, Jan 24: The Mangalore Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Customs department are in a fix over the setting up of a cargo terminal at the Airport.
The AAI has proposed to establish the cargo terminal at the existing airport once the construction of a new terminal near Kenjar completes.
But unless the Customs department utilises provisions under section 8 of Customs Act 1962, AAI will not be able to handle any cargo from Mangalore Airport for international destination.
The ball is now in court of the Customs department and has to declare the airport as Customs Airport for handling of cargo, sources stress.
But the Customs department insists that the AAI has to undertake custodianship for cargo clearance. Incidentally, AAI has no provision to undertake custodianship.
Under `Customs Law Manual’, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) is the final authority to approve Cargo Terminal for an airport in India.
Mangalore Airport Director M R Vasudeva told this website that he would discuss the issue with Chief Commissioner of Customs, Heera Radhakrishnan, who will be in the city to participate in the International Customs Day celebrations.
Many agencies, he informed, had come forward to undertake the cargo handling agency in the Mangalore Airport. The cargo terminal would be functional once an approval is obtained from Customs, Vasudev added.
Unless the Customs department declares Mangalore airport as `customs aerodrome’ that handles cargo, tenders cannot be invited. Hence, clearance from the Customs department is awaited for the realisation of the project.
Meanwhile, Customs faces an acute shortage of staff to manage the cargo terminal duty.
MANGALORE, Jan 24: The Mangalore Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the Customs department are in a fix over the setting up of a cargo terminal at the Airport.
The AAI has proposed to establish the cargo terminal at the existing airport once the construction of a new terminal near Kenjar completes.
But unless the Customs department utilises provisions under section 8 of Customs Act 1962, AAI will not be able to handle any cargo from Mangalore Airport for international destination.
The ball is now in court of the Customs department and has to declare the airport as Customs Airport for handling of cargo, sources stress.
But the Customs department insists that the AAI has to undertake custodianship for cargo clearance. Incidentally, AAI has no provision to undertake custodianship.
Under `Customs Law Manual’, Central Board of Excise and Customs (CBEC) is the final authority to approve Cargo Terminal for an airport in India.
Mangalore Airport Director M R Vasudeva told this website that he would discuss the issue with Chief Commissioner of Customs, Heera Radhakrishnan, who will be in the city to participate in the International Customs Day celebrations.
Many agencies, he informed, had come forward to undertake the cargo handling agency in the Mangalore Airport. The cargo terminal would be functional once an approval is obtained from Customs, Vasudev added.
Unless the Customs department declares Mangalore airport as `customs aerodrome’ that handles cargo, tenders cannot be invited. Hence, clearance from the Customs department is awaited for the realisation of the project.
Meanwhile, Customs faces an acute shortage of staff to manage the cargo terminal duty.
Sunday, January 13, 2008
Big increase in air passenger traffic in 2007
Raviprasad Kamila
6.75 lakh passengers used the airport last year
MANGALORE: Bajpe (Mangalore) Airport of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has received a shot in the arm as the passenger traffic at the airport increased by 2.35 lakh in 2007. This was the first time ever that the passenger traffic increased so hugely in one year.
In all, 6.75 lakh passengers used this airport between January and December 2007 compared to 4.39 lakh passengers in 2006. M.R. Vasudeva, director of the airport, attributed the growth in traffic to increase in the number of international and domestic flights last year. Of those who travelled through the airport last year, 20 per cent were international passengers, he said.
Of the passenger traffic handled by the airport last year, 5.36 lakh were domestic passengers and 1.38 lakh international passengers.
According to a study, the number of passengers who arrived at the airport in 2007 was 3.35 lakh against 2.13 lakh in the previous year. As many as 3.39 lakh passengers flew from here in 2007 against 2.26 lakh in 2006. Mr. Vasudeva said: “This may be because passengers from West Asia fly directly to Mangalore from places such as Dubai, Abudhabi, Muscat and Bahrain. While returning, some of them fly through Mumbai. “This is one of the reasons for more number of arrivals,” he said.A study of annual passenger traffic between 1998 and 2007 reveals that the number of passengers arriving at the airport was always more than those flying back from here. For example, in 1998, 1.15 lakh passengers arrived and 1.05 lakh passengers departed from here. In 2004, 1.36 lakh arrived and 1.27 lakh departed, and in 2005, 1.43 lakh arrived and 1.33 lakh departed from the airport.Morning flight soon
Sources at the airport said that a private operator who had planned to operate a late evening flight between Mangalore and Bangalore had dropped the proposal. Instead, the same operator was planning to introduce an early morning flight between the two cities.
6.75 lakh passengers used the airport last year
MANGALORE: Bajpe (Mangalore) Airport of the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has received a shot in the arm as the passenger traffic at the airport increased by 2.35 lakh in 2007. This was the first time ever that the passenger traffic increased so hugely in one year.
In all, 6.75 lakh passengers used this airport between January and December 2007 compared to 4.39 lakh passengers in 2006. M.R. Vasudeva, director of the airport, attributed the growth in traffic to increase in the number of international and domestic flights last year. Of those who travelled through the airport last year, 20 per cent were international passengers, he said.
Of the passenger traffic handled by the airport last year, 5.36 lakh were domestic passengers and 1.38 lakh international passengers.
According to a study, the number of passengers who arrived at the airport in 2007 was 3.35 lakh against 2.13 lakh in the previous year. As many as 3.39 lakh passengers flew from here in 2007 against 2.26 lakh in 2006. Mr. Vasudeva said: “This may be because passengers from West Asia fly directly to Mangalore from places such as Dubai, Abudhabi, Muscat and Bahrain. While returning, some of them fly through Mumbai. “This is one of the reasons for more number of arrivals,” he said.A study of annual passenger traffic between 1998 and 2007 reveals that the number of passengers arriving at the airport was always more than those flying back from here. For example, in 1998, 1.15 lakh passengers arrived and 1.05 lakh passengers departed from here. In 2004, 1.36 lakh arrived and 1.27 lakh departed, and in 2005, 1.43 lakh arrived and 1.33 lakh departed from the airport.Morning flight soon
Sources at the airport said that a private operator who had planned to operate a late evening flight between Mangalore and Bangalore had dropped the proposal. Instead, the same operator was planning to introduce an early morning flight between the two cities.
Thursday, January 03, 2008
Mangalore: State Government Recommends Intl Status for Bajpe Airport
Mangalore: State Government Recommends Intl Status for Bajpe Airport
The Hindu
MANGALORE, Dec 3 2009 : Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao said here on Monday that the State Government will take steps to send a proposal to the Union Government recommending international airport status to Mangalore airport. Mangalore airport is a domestic customs airport.
He was replying to queries from presspersons at Kenjar where the Airports Authority of India is building an integrated terminal building for Mangalore airport. Earlier, Rao inspected ongoing work at the terminal building.
Rao said that he was not aware of the fact that the State Government was yet to send the proposal to the Union Government. “I will take it up with the Civil Aviation Secretary after completing the formalities,” he said.
About the slow pace of work to lay a road to the new terminal building by the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation, he said: “We will take care of it.”
Rao said that the airport officials too had brought this to his notice. They told him that the new terminal building was expected to be ready by February next. If the connecting road was not ready by then, it will create problem.
The Chief Secretary said that he was aware of the importance of road connectivity to the new terminal building as a similar situation existed in Bangalore before the international airport at Devanahalli was inaugurated.
M.R. Vasudeva, director of the airport, briefed him about the ongoing work. The director said that about 70 per cent of the work had been completed.
Meantime, Daijiworld has learnt from reliable sources, that the transfer of the airport director Vasudeva Rao has been temporarily put on hold. Rao is expected to continue as the director without promotion, till the new airport terminal becomes operational.
It may be recalled, that Vasudeva Rao was promoted as the general manager and posted to Coimbatore International Airport sometime back.
The Hindu
MANGALORE, Dec 3 2009 : Chief Secretary Sudhakar Rao said here on Monday that the State Government will take steps to send a proposal to the Union Government recommending international airport status to Mangalore airport. Mangalore airport is a domestic customs airport.
He was replying to queries from presspersons at Kenjar where the Airports Authority of India is building an integrated terminal building for Mangalore airport. Earlier, Rao inspected ongoing work at the terminal building.
Rao said that he was not aware of the fact that the State Government was yet to send the proposal to the Union Government. “I will take it up with the Civil Aviation Secretary after completing the formalities,” he said.
About the slow pace of work to lay a road to the new terminal building by the Karnataka Urban Infrastructure Development and Finance Corporation, he said: “We will take care of it.”
Rao said that the airport officials too had brought this to his notice. They told him that the new terminal building was expected to be ready by February next. If the connecting road was not ready by then, it will create problem.
The Chief Secretary said that he was aware of the importance of road connectivity to the new terminal building as a similar situation existed in Bangalore before the international airport at Devanahalli was inaugurated.
M.R. Vasudeva, director of the airport, briefed him about the ongoing work. The director said that about 70 per cent of the work had been completed.
Meantime, Daijiworld has learnt from reliable sources, that the transfer of the airport director Vasudeva Rao has been temporarily put on hold. Rao is expected to continue as the director without promotion, till the new airport terminal becomes operational.
It may be recalled, that Vasudeva Rao was promoted as the general manager and posted to Coimbatore International Airport sometime back.
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