The Hindu Business Line : Traffic volumes dip at new airport, says AP Minister

Hyderabad, Sept. 6 The Andhra Pradesh Government has said that the traffic at the Rajiv Gandhi International Airport at Shamshabad dipped when compared to the volumes at the Begumpet airport that was shut down in March 2008 to make way for the new airport.

Replying to a question by Mr Pratap Reddy (Congress) in the Assembly, the Minister for Ports and Airports, Mr M. Venkataramana Rao, said that the passenger traffic dipped to 16,400 a day at the new airport from 17,400 a day at Begumpet airport.

He cited the sharp increase in ATF (Aviation Turbine Fuel) prices and poor road connectivity to the airport as the reasons for the dip in traffic volumes.

The number of aircraft traffic movements too saw a decrease at 208 a day at the new airport from 239 at the old airport that was closed for commercial aviation operations.

He, however, said that there was an increase in the number of international passengers, whose number had gone up to 4,000 a day from 3,400. The domestic passenger volume had come down by 1,600 (a day) from 14,000 to 12,400.Members from the Congress and some Opposition parties had called for the setting up of a House Committee to look into the collection of high-user development fee (UDF) by the GMR Hyderabad International Airport and other issues related to the new airport. The Airport Minister turned down the plea.

Responding to a plea on passing a resolution calling for waiver of UDF for Haj pilgrims, the Speaker, Mr K.R. Suresh Reddy, said the House could not allow resolutions against private parties.