Palaniswami asks Centre to speed up air connectivity to TN towns

He said Salem city had been benefited by the flight services to the city airport and people in and around the steel city had welcomed the UDAN scheme which had been announced to promote air connectivity between regions.

Similarly, Hosur is an important industrial hub in Krishnagiri district and the town had been selected under the UDAN scheme in the first phase. But flight operations are yet to start for want of ‘no objection certificate’ from the Bengaluru airport.

In a letter to Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu, the CM said the Hosur airport should be made operational immediately.

“The Hosur Airport will be an engine of growth to the industrial hub of Krishnagiri and neighbouring districts and also will develop the Chennai–Bangalore Industrial Corridor,” he noted and requested the Prime Minister to instruct the civil aviation authorities to make Hosur Airport operational immediately.

Neyveli had also been selected in Phase I of UDAN scheme and bidding process with airline operators had been completed. The Chief Minister appealed to Modi to take necessary steps to bring flight operations to Neyveli as early as possible.

Pointing out that Ramanathapuram had been included in Phase II of the UDAN scheme, Palaniswami said Rameswaram is an important pilgrimage and tourism centre, attracting tourists from all over India. He requested the Prime Minister to take necessary steps to start air operations to Ramanathapuram as expeditiously as possible by starting the bidding process.

The Regional Air Connectivity Scheme, also known as UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik), is aimed at bringing air connectivity to tier-2 and tier-3 cities and making air travel affordable for the people.