<Non-metros prop up 46% air traffic growth ATREYEE DEV ROY NEW DELHI, MAR 23: <Domestic air traffic grew at an impressive 46% in 2006. While passenger traffic in metros grew by an average of 31%, smaller stations like Port Blair, Nagpur and Raipur registered traffic growth of 141.8%, 94.8% and 70.3%, respectively. According to Airports Authority of India data, of the top 45 airports, nine airports registered 50% growth in passenger traffic. These include Hyderabad, Pune, Coimbatore, Mangalore, Nagpur, Port Blair, Raipur, Ranchi and Jaipur. Surprisingly, two of the most popular tourism destinations-Udaipur and Jodhpur-recorded only 9.6% and 2.9% growth, respectively. > http://www.financialexpress.com/fe_full_story.php?content_id=158875 Part of the explanation especially for the very high numbers is in the "growth from a low base" phenomenon. Dabolim is "stuck in the middle", no critical mass and no high growth. Its strange how the civil enclave at Hyderabad is still growing so rapidly despite being in the top 6 airports -- and being in the heart of town! An indepth study of civil enclaves is needed to get a handle on what's happening in places like Dabolim.
