Mangalore: 'Bajpe Airport Set for Next Ten Years': Director

Report: John B Monteiro
Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangalore

Mangalore, Aug 5: With the present level of modernization, including its new runway and integrated terminal complex, Mangalore Airport at Bajpe is well set to comfortably handle passenger and cargo traffic for the next ten years, declared Airport director M R Vasudeva.

He was addressing a meeting organized by St Aloysius College Alumni Association (SACAA) on Friday August 5.

He observed that though Mangalore Airport was late in modernizing and expansion, it now has the capacity of handling the existing type of aircraft, with capacity to handle 500 passengers at any given time.

He said that larger aircraft can be handled with the extension of the runway at a cost of Rs 250 crores. Responding to a question, he said as of now, at the level of currently operating aircraft, the airport can at no account be declared unsafe.
 
Vasudeva said that the airport is the first introdution to people, specially foreigners, visiting Mangalore by air and has evoked high praise for its neat, clean and tidy integrated terminal complex. It would be the gateway for products and services of the special economic zone and industries being set up in the nearby region.
 
Vesudeva made an interesting claim that air travel was the cheapest and quickest mode of long haul travel and explained how, specially for businessmen and professionals, time saved translated into money earned and offset the apparent lower cost of rail, road or sea travel.
 
Arthur D'Souza, president, SACAA, welcomed, John B Monteiro, convenor, SACAA Talks, introduced the speaker and Naveen Mascarenhas, secretay, proposed the vote of thanks.