RAMANATHAPURAM
Ramanathapuram district, declared one of the 115 aspirational districts in the country for all-round development, would soon get the much-needed air connectivity, said Minister for Information Technology M. Manikandan on Tuesday.
Talking to reporters after chairing a review meeting with B. Chandramohan, Secretary, Information Technology, who is the monitoring officer for the district, and Collector S. Natarajan here, he said air connectivity to the district would be established under the Centre’s Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN).
As there had been an increasing demand for flight services, especially from those visiting Rameswaram, the Centre had decided to introduce civil aviation after developing the existing airstrip at Indian Naval Air Station INS Parundu at Uchipuli near here, he said.
He said the about 1,000-foot-long airstrip would be expanded to 8,000 ft for operation of commercial flights.
Mr. Natarajan said the process of acquiring land for the purpose had begun.
Mr. Chandramohan said, “Ramanathapuram is accorded top priority for air connectivity under UDAN.”
Rear Admiral Alok Bhatnagar, Flag Officer Commanding, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, who visited INS Parundu recently, had also said the Uchipuli airstrip would be expanded to operate bigger aircraft.
Mr. Manikandan said the introduction of civil aviation at INS Parundu would also help attract IT companies when an IT Park was established in the district. The district administration had already identified 25 acres of land for the IT Park, he said.
He said the Centre and State Tourism departments were implementing schemes worth ₹15 crore to make Rameswaram the most-preferred destination for tourists – both domestic and foreign. Plans were afoot to introduce ‘Vivekananda Circuit’, a ferry service between Rameswaram and Vivekananda rock memorial in Kanniyakumari, he said.