The Hindu Business Line : Adani Group awaits Centre’s nod to set up airport at Mundra

Ahmedabad, May 8 The Adani Group, after setting up a port, a rail-line and an airstrip at Mundra in Kutch district of Gujarat, is expecting the Centre’s permission to add infrastructure for expanding the facility for domestic and international flights this year to set up India’s first privately run domestic and international airport off the Gulf of Kutch.

On May 5, the Union Civil Aviation Minister, Mr Praful Patel, visited Mundra and held discussions with the officials of the Adani Group. Senior BJP leader Mr L.K. Adani and many others, including officials from the Maruti-Suzuki, have also visited the place in recent past.

Increase in air traffic

With the Mundra port readying to receive Maruti cars for shipment to South India and other places, and the adjoining SEZ emerging as a mega-industrial hub, air traffic is set to increase in the area. Private airlines are already eying the lucrative area. Soon after the Centre approved the Ministry’s proposal to allow private airports, the Adani Group, whose mainstay is in infrastructure development across sectors, had submitted an application to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry in January this year seeking to set up a full-fledged airport at Mundra. A company spokesman told Business Line here today that the application is being “considered”.

Pvt industrial airport

Currently, Mundra has a 1,700-metre-long airstrip and a reception centre being used for chartered flights. Once the Centre granted the Adanis permission, they would convert the airstrip into a full-fledged airport and set up an Air Traffic Control (ATC), security checks, luggage and baggage facilities and other paraphernalia for passenger and cargo.

If and when this is done, Mundra would emerge on the global aviation map as a private industrial airport offering the entire logistic chain in the vicinity of a major industrial hub through port, airport, railway and possibly coastal navigation.

Due to the tax sops offered by the Central and Gujarat Government to Kutch district after the 2001 earthquake, investments to the tune of more than Rs 25,000 crore have poured in the border district and a large number of people from all professions have flocked to the area for jobs in the industrial units set up by different groups.

Many more companies are expected to flock to the Mundra SEZ, being promoted by the Adani Group, as well as the Kandla SEZ nearby. The Bhuj airport, the closest one to have commercial flight landing facilities, is now one of the well-developed airports in India.

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Adani Group awaits Centre’s nod to set up airport at Mundra