Focus on connecting small cities by air: Manmohan

Small destinations in the country will have air connectivity with a network of more than 100 airports planned to meet the expected passenger load capacity of 30 crore by 2020, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on Saturday said.

The first such airport will come up in Kishangarh town in Rajasthan’s Ajmer district, he said after laying the foundation stone for the development of the airport which is scheduled to get operational by 2016.

‘An ambitious scheme to develop a network of 100 smaller airports in the country is being implemented.Focus earlier was on developing airports in metro cities and now more than 100 airports will be set up in small towns and cities,’ Singh said.

‘This will enhance air connectivity in the country. Kishangarh airport will be the first project under this scheme,’ he said.

The prime minister said the Kishangarh airport, to be set up at an estimated cost of 161 crore in first phase, will accelerate economic activities and growth in the area.

‘Ajmer is a tourist destination with famous dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti and Brahma temple in Pushkar town.Besides, the region is known for industries including that of marble and the new project of airport will push economic growth,’ he said.