The Hindu Business Line : No going back on budget airliner, says CM

THE State Government intends to persist with the Air Kerala budget airliner project despite the none-too-encouraging response it has elicited from the Centre.

Announcing this to newspersons, the Chief Minister, Mr Oommen Chandy, said here on Wednesday that there was a growing demand for a budget airliner to destinations in the West Asia.

The not-for-profit should by itself qualify it for a waiver from norms applicable to private airlines that operate in the international sector. The five-year track record and minimum fleet size stipulations should therefore not be invoked in the instant case, the Chief Minister said.

At the very least, relaxations allowed to Air India Express, the budget airliner from the country's international carrier, need be granted to the project. A company has already been registered for operating the airline, which offers some of the lowest ever fares ever attempted.

At least 15 seats will be reserved for those flying home after a gap of five years, the fare capped to being 25 per cent of the normal.

Vizhinjam project: The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh will lay the foundation stone for the Rs 4,360-crore Vizhinjam Deepwater International Container Transhipment Terminal in March. The Prime Minister is expected be in the State on March 10 and 11.

The State Government will accord maximum priority to infrastructure projects such as the Vizhinjam and Vallarpadam container transhipment terminals, upgradation of the Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode international airports and the yet-to-be-launched Kochi Metro and Smart City.

Creation of new employment opportunities will be another top priority, in line with the letter and spirit of the Vision 2010 document. This will be achieved through ramping up public and private investments in the State. Tourism and allied sectors alone are expected to generate a significant number of direct and indirect employment opportunities.

Pay revision: The Pay Revision Commission for Government employees and teachers submitted its report to the State Government here on Wednesday.

The revised scales will be applicable with retrospective effect from July 1, 2004, and the arrears payable from April 1, 2005. Arrears applicable for the period from July 1, 2004, to March 31, 2005, will be treated as `notional.'

The extent of dearness allowance being merged with the basic will be 59 per cent. Commutation limit has been revised up to 40 per cent. The existing 27 salary scales will be whittled down to 24 and revised accordingly. The minimum scale applicable will now be Rs 4,300 and the maximum Rs 33,750.

The new 24 scales will be grouped under a larger master scale being prescribed for the first time. Implementation of the pay revision proposals is expected to bring a fresh financial commitment of Rs 994 crore to the exchequer.

More Stories on : Airlines | Policy | Kerala

Article E-Mail :: Comment :: Syndication :: Printer Friendly Page

Stories in this Section
GoAir announces acquisition of 20 A-320 aircraft

No going back on budget airliner, says CM

Railways must shed baggage of the past

Increase in oil moved from ice-bound regions — Shipping cos mull buying ice-class tankers

`Pakistan' hits troubled waters in Lakshadweep

GE Shipping, Mercator Lines buoyant

Ministry nod for Jet Airways' Sahara acquisition soon

KSRTC strike plan dropped

`Bird flu scare results in Rs 200-cr loss to truckers'

Noida Toll Bridge to raise Rs 200 cr via GDR issue