The Hindu Business Line : `Surat lacks a proper airport infrastructure'

EIGHT out of ten diamonds sold in the world are polished here. It is a major production centre for synthetic textiles in India. Neighbouring Hazira boasts of an impressive list of corporate big-wigs such as Reliance, Essar, Larsen and Toubro, Shell, and Oil and Natural Gas Corporation Ltd, just to name a few.

Yet, Surat does not have a proper airport infrastructure and only one carrier, Deccan Airways, operates a flight to Mumbai, three hours away by train.

The residents of Surat have been demanding an international airport for the city along with night landing facilities and connections to important destinations in India and abroad.

"All corporates use Vadodara or Mumbai to come to Surat. We feel that Surat needs a proper airport and convenient flight timings. The airlines which operate a Delhi-Vadodara flight should extend their operations to Surat," says the President of South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Mr Dinesh M. Mandalaywala.

Agrees Mr Pravin Nanavati, a leading diamond trader and former President of the Surat Diamond Association.

"We are putting up the world's largest jewellery park in Surat. The success of the venture rests on an international airport at Surat. On our part, we can assure the airlines that they will get enough passengers if the timings are convenient and the flights are regular," says Mr Nanavati.

Deccan Airways, which operates an afternoon flight to the diamond city, may also pull out its operations. The flight timings were erratic and on several days, the flight did not arrive at all, Mr Nanavati said.

But the Deccan Airways Managing Director, Captain G.R. Gopinath, told Business Line that the flight would not be withdrawn as the Civil Aviation Ministry had promised to look into the infrastructure issues at the Surat airport.

"We have been assured by Airports Authority (of India) that they will install modern VHF equipment at Surat airport that would enable the aircraft to land with less than three km visibility.

They have promised to have the infrastructure in place in the next 30 days and we have decided to continue with the flight," Capt Gopinath said.

The Deccan Airways chief said that the problem with Surat was not occupancy but that of proper infrastructure. The aircraft often had to make overhead passes before landing as the runway was not clear.

On other days, the aircraft could not land only because of visibility.

"It was affecting our credibility. On some days, the aircraft had to return without landing. But now we are hopeful that the problems would be ironed out," Capt Gopinath said.

Meanwhile, Airports Authority of India (AAI) has started construction of the terminal building and the runway apron has already been completed, Mr Mandalaywala said.

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