------------------------------------------------------- CONVENTION OF THE GOAN DIASPORA FROM GOA INTO THE WORLD Lisbon, Portugal June 15-17, 2007 Details at: http://www.goacom.org/casa-de-goa/noticias.html -------------------------------------------------------
Indian touches down in Surat, Civil Aviation Minister praised to the skies BJP MP Kashiram Rana promises support to make Surat airport an international one Express News Service Surat, May 6: In the backdrop of the 'Indian' flight number IC-417 touching down on Surat airport's runway, a political play was on display at the podium just outside the incomplete passenger terminal building. What was supposed to be a day marking the culmination of Surtis' long-pending dream turned out to be a day of more politicking as leaders turned a blind eye to the incomplete state of the airport building and focussed on how Surat will have an international terminal someday. Those present included Civil Aviation Minister Praful Patel, Congress MP Jeeva Patel, MP and former member of the civil aviation committee Dr Tushar Chaudhury and BJP MP from Surat Kanshiram Rana. Rana showered praises on the Minister for 'speeding up' work on the airport and fulfilling a long-pending demand of Surtis. "We will extend all support to make this an international airport,'' said Rana. "It's all thanks to the UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi and the Prime Minister's willingness to complete the Surat airport,'' said Tushar Chaudhury. Jeeva Patel, too, sang a few lines in traditional Mehsana tune in praise of the Minister. When Praful Patel took to the dias, he exclaimed at the excitement evoked by an entourage of eminent personalities from Surat. "Surtis seem to be delighted the same way people would have been happy upon seeing a television or a refrigerator some 20 years back,'' he said. "This is nothing. The project had been hanging fire for over a decade now and you should ask your political leaders why this was so. People need to think smart and approach different leaders other than the ones who vouch to fulfill their aspirations. However, for the next two years, I will still be around. And if Kanshiram Rana can convince Narendra Modi for an additional 1,000 acres of land, the airport can be turned into an international terminal in that time span. Of course then we will invite Modi, too,'' said Patel. While Vishwapati Trivedi, Chairman and Managing Director of 'Indian', expressed his satisfaction in Surat becoming the 54th domestic destination for the airline with a brand new A-319 Airbus, it is clear that more services will be extended on the basis of business viability alone. The Minister promised new routes from Surat to Mumbai and Bhavnagar by June. "Scope for carrying high-value low-density cargo like diamonds and also cargo related to the textile and other industries will be explored shortly,' ' said Trivedi. Meanwhile, the Airport Authority of India is to complete the passenger terminal and introduce all passenger amenities in another three to four months. http://cities.expressindia.com/fullstory.php?newsid=235113 Scandalous delay! Fast forward to 2015. Same story at Mopa? Utt goenkars! But dont depend on Praful Patel. He is flying blind.
