Director of Mangalore Airport M.R. Vasudeva said here on Sunday that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has written to the Customs Department requesting it to consider the AAI as custodian of cargo proposed to be handled at the airport.
Addressing a gathering at the inauguration of a free health check-up camp organised by Mangalore Airport Diamond Jubilee Committee, Mr. Vasudeva said if the Customs Department permitted, the AAI would be the custodian of cargo to be handled at the airport.
He said the airport was building infrastructure for handling cargo at its old terminal building at Bajpe. “Civil and electrical works estimated at Rs. 45 lakh have been completed now,” he said.
New complex
The director said the airport was building constructing a new complex to house its air traffic facilities. “Its civil works are expected to be over by January next,” he said.
He said that Mangalore though a customs airport had all facilities of an international airport. Passengers should place demand with airline operators to connect Mangalore with more cities, he said.
Referring to the last week’s incident of faulty landing by the pilot of an airliner, Mr. Vasudeva said passengers need not be apprehensive of the safety at airport. “The airport is safe. Such incidents do happen in many airports especially in coastal belt where weather keeps changing during monsoon.”
He said that a team from the Directorate-General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has inspected the airport following the incident. The AAI had brought the incident to the notice of DGCA as pilots were supposed to land the aircraft at the area marked.
Rebuilding Goschen
P.P. Upadhya, Managing Director, Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. (MRPL), said that MRPL would provide Rs. 21 crore to the State government to rebuild Government Lady Goschen Hosptial in the city. If required the MRPL would donate funds for purchasing medical equipment at the hospital, he said.
Satish Bhandary, Dean, K.S. Hegde Medical Academy, Deralakatte, said that KHHEMA Hospital had begun kidney transplantation.
A blood donation camp was organised on the occasion. In addition, free general health check-up, dental check-up and eye check-up were also organised.
