| The Union civil aviation minister Praful Patel had put on hold the works in the new international terminal at the Ahmedabad airport last month. |
| He had said that he wanted to take a relook at the project, including the place finalised for the international terminal. It is learnt that the state chief minister Narendra Modi will hold a discussion with Patel soon. |
| "Central government has developed the airports in Hyderabad and Bangalore. We will demand the Centre to undertake the project of developing airports in Gujarat. We will also demand the government to select the location for the new airports and initiate the construction works at the earliest," said Modi while attending a meet at Gujarat Infrastructure Development Corporation (GIDC) recently. |
| Patel, not convinced with the idea of constructing the international terminal opposite the domestic terminal, ordered the work to stopped and has stated that the fate of the international terminal will be decided at a high level meeting to be held in New Delhi with the officials of the Airports Authority of India. |
| When asked about the development of an international terminal at Ahmedabad, airport director N S Jaladhari, said, "the fate of the international terminal will be decided in New Delhi and I am unaware of any developments." |
| Earlier, Airport Authority of India had approved in principle the facelift plans of Sardar Vallabhbahi Patel Airport in Ahmedabad. |
| Funds over Rs 300 crore had already been allocated and the work was expected to be completed in the next two years, which included the mega project of the new international terminal. |
| "There is an urgent need for the upgradation of the Rajkot airport, which includes extenuation of runway, extenuation of terminal, expansion of the flooring area and improving parking facilities," said Modi. |
| Surat airport has already been handed over to AAI for developing the airport by September, 2005. |
Top Section
Explore Business Standard