Industrial and business sectors here have hailed Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's announcement to upgrade Tiruchi airport to international status as part of the growth agenda for developing infrastructure.
International status will enable connectivity between Tiruchi and metros other than Chennai, which is necessary to create an accelerator effect to the domestic economy , Director of Indian Institute of Management – Tiruchi M.Prafulla Agnihotri said.
Since Tiruchi airport will be on the international map, better movement of foreign customers will spur BHEL's growth, observed the Executive Director of BHEL Tiruchi A.V.Krishnan. International status, added Rajappa Rajkumar, president, BHEL Small Industries' Association will pave way for development of the airport into a full-fledged cargo hub. Being centrally located , export opportunities could be optimally utilised, he said. According to S.Sridharan, president, Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries' Association, connectivity to international cities such as London, Paris, Frankfurt, and New York will obviate the need for passengers from central and southern districts to travel up to Chennai.