The Tamil Nadu Foodgrains Merchants Association has urged the Union Civil Aviation Ministry to press Air India to launch international flights from Madurai.
Dindigul Member of Parliament N.S.V. Chitthan submitted a memorandum on behalf of the trade body to the Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh recently. The association urged the national carrier to immediately launch flight services to destinations such as Malaysia, Singapore, Dubai and Sri Lanka.
It pointed out that though the Madurai Airport had been declared as an ‘international airport' and with the necessary infrastructure already in place, the airport was yet to get international connectivity. Coimbatore and Tiruchi continue to remain the only internationally-connected airports in Tamil Nadu outside Chennai.
Besides being located centrally, Madurai has the world-famous Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple which attracted a lot of foreign tourists. The Ramanathaswamy Temple, another famous temple that attracted a lot of foreigners, was located south of Madurai. Tuticorin Port was also situated near Madurai. The Association said that the people of eight districts were waiting for international connectivity.
Further, the association also requested the Central Government to extend the runway of Madurai Airport from the present 7,500 feet to 12,500 feet. The State Government, it said, had already expressed willingness to acquire 610 acres for the purpose.
The trade body also requested Mr. Ajit Singh to provide aero-bridge facility for Madurai airport, according to a press release.
