By TCN News,
Kozhikode/New Delhi: Calling for urgent intervention of the authorities towards the traveling woes of the NRIs from Malabar in Kerala, E Ahmed, the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML) national president and Malappuram MP, on Wednesday raised the matter of the Calicut International Airport – very much used for all important Haj operations – in the Parliament.
While speaking in the zero of the Lok Sabha, the IUML leader came down heavily against the Airports Authority of India (AAI) saying it was extending a raw deal towards the airport, which is relied upon by thousands of the NRIs, originally from the state to meet their traveling requirements.
“It is the fifth airport in the matter of income under the AAI. This airport is dealing with overseas passengers to destinations such as Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Doha, Jeddah, Riyadh, Dammam and Kuwait and domestic connections to Mumbai, Chennai, Bangalore, Coimbatore and Kochi. The AAI, along with Air India, gets a remarkable earnings through this airport,” Ahmed said.
“Earlier, Boeing 747 Jumbo aircrafts and 777 – 200 and 300 series were operated from the airport in addition to all other small aircrafts including Airbus 320. The Airports Authority of India should have taken up the re-carpeting and strengthening of the airport much earlier. But, unfortunately, all of a sudden, they found that this airport cannot be made operational for bigger aircrafts like Boeing 777 or 747. This airport is used for Haj operations. Besides this, a large number of people of Indian origin living in Saudi Arabia use this airport for travelling to Riyadh, Jeddah and Dammam. Now, the Airport Authority of India finds that this airport cannot be made operational due to technical reasons. Such an important airport, which earns for the nation, should have been taken care of much earlier,” he said.
Criticising the AAI, Ahmed said the reluctance of the Authority to come up with appropriate resolving measures was leading to sufferings of the passengers. “The Hajj trips has been also shifted to Kochi owing to the present crisis. Moreover, owing to the re-carpeting works, the service of the small flights has also come to end,” he said.
“I urge the Government to complete repairing and strengthening of the airport and make it operational as early as possible,” he added.
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