Trade bodies join hands to press for more flights

Rajkot: Under the leadership of Rajkot Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI), 32 trade and industry organizations are meeting on Sunday to strategize on making a unified representation to the government demanding better air connectivity to Rajkot.
“We will discuss how to approach various government authorities, including the PMO, to press our demand for four daily flights to Mumbai and two flights to Delhi, which was operational a few years ago,” the vice president of RCCI, Parth Ganatra told TOI.
The apex trade body had itself approached four airline operators, namely TATA SIA Airlines, Spice Jet, IndiGo and GoAir to start operation from Rajkot airport, enticing them with the potential of business from the Saurashtra region. In a letter RCCI had written to these operators, it highlighted the concerns of around 800 daily flyers from Rajkot as well as the imitation jewellery cargo which is languishing for want of better air connectivity.
Rajkot member of Parliament Mohan Kundaria has also been invited to the meeting.
The 32 associations include Metoda GIDC, Aji GIDC, Shapar industrial area, Rajkot Engineering association, greater chamber of Rajkot, Rajkot medical association, psychotherapy association, travel association, Rajkot builder association among a host of other big and small industries.
“The 100 metre stretch of the runway has now been made operational post DGCA permission and so, operational hassles for the bigger craft is no longer an issue. We have pursued the Airport Authority of India to provide operators all facilities and also collect reasonable night parking charges compared to bigger airports,” he added.
After the Jet Airways shut its operation, Rajkot was left with only two flights operating from the city — one to Delhi and another to Mumbai. Both flights are being operated by the state-run Air India. However, with AI announcing the suspension of its Mumbai flight four days a week from July 2 to September 15, Rajkot bizmen, comprising commercial capital of Saurashtra and industrial town of Morbi, feel totally grounded.