Civil Air Port Started Getting Damaged and Dilapidated

Jaisalmer: The tourist season has almost started, but there is no hope of air service starting in Jaisalmer. Disappointed over the indifference of center and state governments, the tourism businessmen in Jaisalmer took out a silent procession and submitted memorandum addressed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and union civil aviation minister.

Jaisalmer Tourism Business Association President Jitendra Singh Rathore said in the memorandum that Jaisalmer along with being a tourist place is a border district too, due to which demand for air service is high not only for tourism but also for military. Despite the civil airport lying ready for two years, air service has not started till now. Every year, over 100 chartered flights come to Jaisalmer which clearly shows how important the air service is in Jaisalmer.

Rathore said the state government had allotted 60 acres of land free of cost for the civil airport and now the work has been completed and still  no air service providing company has shown any interest in start air service to Jaisalmer, whereas civil air port is now started getting damaged and dilapidated.

Welcome Jaisalmer Tourist Services, Managing Director Dalpat Singh Tanwar said that despite spending Rs 80 crore, the governments are not making any serious efforts to start air service here. With not starting the air service, there has been disappointment among tourism businessmen and tourists. With starting of air service, there will be boom in tourism business along with it will benefit defense forces and corporate sectors of oil, gas and windmills.

Airport authority of India Joint General Manager (Civil Engineer) Narendra Makhija said that the civil airport around 10kms away from Jaisalmer headquarters is ready 24 months ago with Jaisalmer architecture. This is made on around 24 hectares of land by spending Rs 80 crore and all modern facilities have been provided here. The work of civil airport building has been completed and other works too including parking etc are completed. Looking to future needs, a grand modern terminal is being constructed at the airport and many provisions have been made like aerobridge, inflator, Foot Bridge, etc., in this terminal, three flights can be managed at a time.

Jaisalmer District Collector Narayan Lal Meena said that the airport in Jaisalmer is ready and even tourism season has started, but there is no information of any air company starting air service from here. He said efforts are being made to start air service at the level of state government.