Rajasthan plans to develop 23 old airstrips on PPP mode

The Rajasthan government is planning to develop 23 old airstrips on a public-private partnership mode where chartered and smaller flights can land, Tourism Minister Vishvendra Singh said here on Sunday.

Addressing the G20 Tourism Expo in Jaipur, he also exhorted all participants to go back as “ambassadors of Rajasthan tourism”.

“Under the guidance and leadership of Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot, we are planning to put out 23 old airstrips on a PPP (public-private partnership mode) where chartered flights linkage can be provided directly,” Singh said.

Singh also holds the portfolio of civil aviation in the state cabinet.
Citing an example of Kishangarh airport, he said that after the operationalisation of flights to this airport, a lot of crowd has got diverted from the main airport.

So, people going to Ajmer or those going for ‘ziyarat’ are going through Kishangarh airport, the minister said.
When asked about the status of this plan, he said that it was “in the pipeline and, soon, it will be done”.

“We plan to give these airstrips on a PPP mode, so investment will be from the private sector. And, we (state) will take a certain percentage of the landing and taking off charges. So, it will enhance connectivity,” Singh told the media.

Asked if these 23 airstrips have been identified, he said that they are all existing ones, including those from the colonial era or those made by former rulers.

In response to another inquiry, he said, the arrangement should be such that chartered flights and smaller flights can land at these airstrips. The G20 Tourism Expo is being held here by the Ministry of Tourism in association with the Rajasthan tourism department and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). In his address, the tourism minister, also said that “tourism” does not belong to any party whether Congress or the BJP and urged that whenever any fund is to come from the Centre to the state, it should be speedily released.

-B