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Puducherry Airport Scheduled To Go On Stream From October 10, 2011

The Puducherry airport will go on stream from October 10, 2011 with low-cost carrier, SpiceJet, operating an ATR flight to Bangalore. This information was revealed by P. Rajavelu, Welfare and Tourism Minister, Government of Puducherry, told the territorial Assembly yesterday. The airline had obtained clearance from the Civil Aviation Ministry to operate the flight, he added.

Air India, Jet Airways and Kingfishers had also informed that they would depute their technical team to study the feasibility of operating flights from Puducherry to other destinations, according to a PTI report.

Giving details of the progress of work in the airport at Lawspet near here, he said a Memorandum of Understanding was signed between the Puducherry Administration and the Airports Authority of India in June 2007 for expansion of the airport in two phases.

Under Phase-I, extension of existing runway by 260 metres was taken up to enable landing of ATR type of aircraft along with ground support facilities. An extent of 19.92 hectares within Puducherry State limits was acquired for the purpose at Rs 18.95 crore and handed over to AAI in July 2007.

Phase-II comprised extension of an additional 1,100 meters of runway by acquiring 200 acres in neighbouring Tamil Nadu State limits to operate large jet aircraft. The runway length, which was earlier 1,222 metres, has now been extended to 1,482 metres, he said.

AAI had completed the runway and facilities for night landing of aircraft. A terminal building, which could handle 300 passengers, was now under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of this year.