Lack of air connectivity hits Kandla Economic Zone

Despite the Centre's emphasis on Special Economic Zones (SEZs), the Kandla Special Economic Zone (KASEZ), one of the leading SEZs in the country, is suffering from lack of air connectivity.

"Kandla's lack of air connectivity has a negative impact on the SEZ hampering the movement of high value goods. At least the 50-seater smaller air crafts can operate from Kandla air port. With the Mundra SEZ having been notified, the case for air services from Kandla becomes imperative," Yogendra Garg, development commissioner, KSEZ, told Business Standard on Tuesday.

Recently, the Gujarat infrastructure Development Board (GIDB) has appointed international consultants, Earnest & Young, to carry out a feasiblity study of Kandla airport.

The study suggests that Kandla has huge potential and the airlines will find it profitable to operate flights in this route.

"We are going to conduct a feasiblity study before beginning operations from Kandla, G R Gopinath, managing director of Air Deccan.

"If every thing goes well, and if the airport has adequate infrastructure, we will begin our operations in the next two months," he added.

Kandla airport had it last flight over five years ago. First Vayudoot used to operate flights at the Kandla airport.

After the airline shut shop, the now-defunct Gujarat Airways carried out services between Mumbai and Kandla before it too discontinued its operation.

The 20-year old airport, at present, has a 5000-feet runway that will allow ATR aircraft traffic. It, however, requires to add at least 1000 feet more if larger planes such as Boeings or Airbuses were to operate. Recently, the government has invested around Rs 2 crore to develop the infrastructure to make the air port operational.

"At present we are in talks with the Air Deccan. We have assured the airlines that if it runs smaller ATR planes, we will guarantee enough passengers to fill 30 seats and 2 metric tonne of cargo on a daily basis.

"That is about 75 per cent of the entire space in an ATR aircraft. The company will soon conduct a feasiblity," said Babulal Singh, president, Gandhidham Chamber of Commerce and Industry.

The GCCI and KASEZ have jointly approached the airline companies offering to give an undertaking for 30 seats and two metric tonnes of cargo on a daily basis for at least three months, if a morning flight to Mumbai is introduced.

With rapid development in Kutch, there is almost no availability in the AC compartments of the two Mumbai bound trains - Sayajinagri Express and Kutch Express. Air traffic has become a more of a necessity for the movement of high-value goods.

KASEZ official are also in talks with Air Sahara, and Jet Airways, but KASEZ officials said that they have been informed that Sahara will be able to run ATR craft only after it completes acquisition of such planes.

"Vijay Mallya's Kingfisher Airlines, which is scheduled to commence its operations from June 2005, may also start their operations from Kandla air port," Singh said.