New Delhi
In a letter to Puri, he said as early as 2008 'Fly Dubai' airlines wanted to operate Coimbatore-Dubai flights and it negotiated with the government too, but ultimately it did not materialise.
The former communication minister said the Civil Aviation Ministry conducted a commercial viability study of the Coimbatore airport which had a "positive outcome".
Despite that no effort has been made by the ministry so far and the non-availability of flights to such international destinations affected Coimbatore, called "Manchester of South India", in its industrialisation, business and employment, he said.
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