Mysuru: The Mysore Airport continues to evoke good response from the passengers flying to and from Hyderabad-Chennai-Mysuru and all the flights are flying to almost full capacity. One more airline — Air Odisha — will be operating on the same sector and the flights will commence from November 30.
Even though the mood is gung ho of the people working at the Mysore Airport, there are a few hiccups and the reason is that the State Government has not kept up its promises of releasing funds to pay the electricity bills of nearly Rs. 88 lakh due for more than a year.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, here this morning, Mysore Airport Director Manoj Kumar Singh, said, “We are very happy with the response the people of Mysuru are giving, as every day more than 50 people are flying from both ends. However, the only problem we are facing is that the electricity bill amounting to nearly Rs.88 lakh has not been paid by the State Government.”
According to the Memorandum of Understanding signed between the State Government and the Airports Authority of India, the Government had promised free supply of electricity, water, waiving of property tax and paying for the Security services at the airport. The first MoU had expired in September 2015 and it was extended only in June 2016 till 2020.
File photo of Mysore Airport Director Manoj Kumar Singh with Dy. Commissioner D. Randeep.
“Meanwhile, we had paid the electricity bills amounting to nearly Rs. 28 lakh after the expiry of the MoU in Sept. 2015 and before the fresh MoU was signed in June 2016. Since the government has agreed to pay the bills from retrospective effect, the amount due to Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company (CESC) is nearly Rs.88 lakh. I have brought this to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner, who has signed the certificate and send it to Infrastructure Development Department (IDD). Hope it will be sorted out soon enough,” said Singh.
When Star of Mysore spoke to DC D. Randeep here this morning, he said, “I have signed the Reimbursement Certificate and sent it to the IDD. There was a delay as they wanted me to countersign and hence, they had sent the bills back. However, the dues will be settled shortly and it will be paid directly to CESC. I am also personally following it.”
Air Odisha
TruJet is already operating flights between Mysuru-Chennai-Hyderabad. As part of UDAN (Ude Desh ka Aam Nagarik) scheme of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, two airlines had bid for this sector in the first phase and the second airline Air Odisha will start its operations from November 30.
“There is so much of potential in the Mysuru sector. The very fact that 60 to 67 people are making use of this facility daily is a very encouraging sign and the Mysore Airport is here to stay. If we get all the facilities promised by the State Government this could also be one of the most lucrative sectors as more and more flights to different destinations will be added,” said Singh.
This post was published on October 24, 2017 6:53 pm