City of Gold...demanding Wings!!!

Living in the city which grows at 11.5 % a year, stands in to 10 growing cities in the world, i always wondered that why there is no airport in the city!!.. finally in 2006 when the airport was inaugurated, and i though that the wait is over!!..bat again there was a question - if their is a modern airport in city why there are no flights??!!!

few weeks back there was a report in TOI stating that Air connectivity can be given to any city in Maharashtra , but not to Surat!!`which was as followed

'Start flights from any Maharashtra city'

Himanshu Bhatt, TNN, Jan 30, 2011, 10.35pm IST

SURAT: Three months ago, a top official from one of the most viable private airline companies put up a proposal for expansion of his carrier to five different sectors of the country. As required he put up a joint proposal to civil aviation ministry for permission to fly commercially on these sectors. Two of the routes were inEast and North East, two in the South and one in Western India. The proposal for Western India was a daily flight from Surat to Delhi. Another airline put up a plan for daily flight from Bangalore to Ahmedabad via Surat on both sides.

For the first airline, three proposals were sanctioned but they were told to forget Surat and instead begin a flight from a city in Maharashtra that has population of just seven lakh. However, when it came to the official reply, the airline is still waiting for that.

As many as five top private carriers of the country apart from Air India showed interest in starting flights from Surat. After several rounds of meetings, all of them wanted their share of the pie and were more than willing to begin at earliest.

"If we are asked to take a final call on the issue, we will begin in 15 days," said a top official handling the Western sector operations of a private carrier. "But, the problem is if we put the name of Surat, we don't get a reply at all. How can you expect us to get taxiing space and parking space on Surat airport? At what cost? Do you think, required time slots would be granted by the aviation ministry?" he asked and added, "But, if I replace Surat with Satara or Sangli, that approval will come in double quick time. I hope this attitude changes fast."

On the other side, all these airline operators officially have been giving different reasons for the delay in beginning of the operations. Ajoy Bhattacharya, president, South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SGCCI) said, "Officially be it Indigo, King Fisher, Jet, Spice Jet, Go Air or any one else, they have been telling us that they don't have availability of aircraft. Some are even talking of slot availability." He added, "But in private, their talks give a feeling of negativity despite the knowledge of huge potential on their part." It is apparent that petty regional considerations on the part of the powers-that-be, have taken their toll of Surti cause of air connectivity.

About 100 days ago, Kingfisher had shown preparedness for flying on Surat-Mumbai, Surat -Bangalore and Surat Delhi sector. Jet had shown interest for Mumbai and Delhi, Spice Jet and Indigo for Chennai, and Kolkata segment, whereas Go Air and Ventura had prepared for operating on Surat - Jaipur and Surat - Bhavnagar routes..

this was a very disturbing report., as my own city was like getting abused!!.me and my brother were jus discussing the issue on FB as he lives in Armenia, about the reasons why the air connectivity is denied every time. he suggested that we should mail the authorities and the electronic media and raise the issue. Being a FB usser i created the group called We WANT a WORKING AIRPORT at ''SURAT''

we could not get the desired response from the people.till last Tuesday there were only 80 members and the group was more or less inactive. but that was the day when things started changing, a businessman and a well wisher of Surat Mr Manoj Singapuri who himself is a FB user visited the Group. he was committed for the air connectivity and hence he boosted the group with 200 members, including some experianced professionals and businessman!!

The Group got what it needed, dedicated Surties who are committed for the air connectivity.Within no time the number was 600, on 15th of may 2011, TOI published an Artical on the Group and stated who we were organizing an online support for the airport and how Priyank desai my brother was responsible for the foundation of the group, also the energy brought in by Mr, Singapuri.

after the artical was published, the membership shooted up and at the vary moment it counts 1600!!..and counting.

teh TIO story,

SURAT: Tired of being let down time and again after repeated assurances of promised air connectivity, Surtis have begun to voice out on Facebook by forming a group called 'We want a working airport at Surat'. The movement has got immense support by Surtis around the world and has grown from 80 to a whopping 600 plus members and counting.

Begun with the simple lines 'Dreaming a day when no need to catch a train after a long wait at Borivali station. Just land directly on our own airport', two months ago, the group was started by an NRI Surti youngster - Priyank Desai - who lives in Armenia.

Discovered by a Surti businessman Manoj Singapuri on Facebook on Thursday evening, it is now spreading like wildfire. "I chanced upon it while searching for information on Surat airport, day before yesterday. It had 80 members protesting and I added my entire group of friends to it. Since then, I have been constantly posting official numbers and data regarding this issue. Even the smallest of cities like Dibrugarh and Agartala have at least 6 flights each," says Singapuri.

Overnight, strong comments as well as online links to news articles where politicians have made false promises in the past have been posted on the FB group wall. Also, important numbers and email IDs of Airport Authority of India, aviation ministry, SMC, airline offices, television networks, twitter and website links of chief minister Narendra Modi have all found space in the varied postings. Group members are being urged to write letters demanding more flights within and out of Gujarat.

Other than businessmen, homemakers and students too are giving the group thumbs up with simple and funny suggestions as well as strong opinions. Youngsters like Kurinji Thakker are also posting all available information on Surat airport and stories which have been carried in the past in prominent newspapers.

"We hope to succeed where the SGCI, aviation ministry, local and central governing bodies have failed. We are Gujarat's second largest city and India's eighth; surely we deserve better air connectivity," says Singapuri.