Madurai gets Rs 130 crore new airport terminal

MADURAI: The manifold increase in air passenger traffic in recent years reflected not only growth in aviation sector but also profile of those travelling by air, Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel said today. "Air travel is no more a rich man's prerogative. Now people from different categories are travelling by air. It is transporting a larger section of people and its importance in transport of cargo has increased tremendously," he said at the inaugural of the Rs 130-crore new terminal building of the airport here. Stating that 33 airports across the country were being expanded and modernised, he said new airports are designed to deal with the growth in the sector. Patel said steps were being taken to introduce international flights as also cargo flights from Madurai for industrial and agricultural development in and around south Tamil Nadu. The minister stressed the need to link Madurai with other parts of the country and said international flights could be operated from here if operators are willing to do so. Expansion of Tiruchirapalli and Chennai airports was going on, the latter at a cost of Rs 2,000 crore. "Once completed, Chennai airport will be on par with Delhi, Mumbai, Bangalore and Hyderabad airports," he said.