Moily Thanks PM for Granting International Status to Mangalore Airport
Media Release
Mangalore/New Delhi, Oct 5: Union minister for corporate affairs Dr M Veerappa Moily has expressed his happiness on the grant of international status to Mangalore Airport through a media release. It may be mentioned that Dr Moily, as part of the union cabinet, along with MP Jayaprakash Hegde who followed up the matter, played an instrumental role in getting the union government to pass the proposal for the international status to the airport.
The media release states:
"I am very happy that Union Cabinet has approved the proposal of declaring Mangalore Air Port as international airport along with other three airports of the country.
Mangalore is the gate way of Karnataka and it has the potential to develop as an important commercial centre next to Mumbai on the Western Coast. It has an excellent hinterland and with the advantage (of) modern harbor a number of industries have been situated in this region. Manipal and other educational institutions have already attracted attention of the entire world.
The region has already boomed itself as a prominent hub of excellence. Every house of the region has at least one person as NRI. Mangalore Airport is functioning since 1951 and most deserved to be declared as international airport. Presently it has the facilities of handling 400 passengers in the domestic arrival hall and 150 international passengers in international hall.
I have been keenly pursuing the matter for a couple of years for its declaration as an International Airport keeping in view of the benefit ofthe international commuters and also for the benefit of the region.
I thank Hon'ble Prime Minister and Minister of Civil Aviation for considering my request and declaring it as International Airport."