Night landing cleared at Agra airport

AGRA - The union Ministry of Tourism and Culture has cleared night landing of flights at Agra’s Kheria airport, according to an industry source, who also said flights will begin landing at night within a month or two.

It has been a long-pending demand of the tourism industry to allow flights, particularly international flights, to land at night in Agra, which is among the most sought after tourism destinations in the country.

The Kheria airport, which is under the Indian Air Force, is currently partially used for civilian flights to the city of the Taj.

Federation of Tourism Associations president Rajiv Tiwari told IANS Saturday that the ministry has agreed to allow night landing at Kheria and also agreed to provide the necessary equipment to facilitate it.

The lack of appropriate equipment to facilitate night landing has been one of the reasons behind the delay, he said.

The ministry has also agreed to increase connectivity with other parts of India, Tiwari added, saying that the step “will provide a major boost to tourism in this circuit.”

Local Congress leaders and representatives of the tourism industry had met party general sectretary Rahul Gandhi in December on the issue.

At present, Agra has only one domestic flight by Kingfisher, which too will be suspended after February, Tiwari said. He alleged that lobbies are working against Agra’s interests.

“There are a whole lot of lobbies at work against Agra’s interests. Foreign tourists are surprised when told Agra, the most important tourist destination in India, does not have a civilian airport. At present the Kheria airport is under the air force. They do not allow parking of planes here,” he said.

Youth Congress activist Sumit Vibhav told IANS: “Now things are beginning to look good. Ignoring Agra’s claims, the Mayawati government wants to develop an airport in Bulandshahr district and one in Noida. Agra does not figure in her scheme of things. But Rahul Gandhi has understood the problem and has taken the right initiative.”