Union Minister for Civil Aviation Ajit Singh said on Monday that there has been slight delay in Air India receiving turnaround money for its revival. Once Air India receives the money, it would pay dues it owes to private airline operators, he said.
Briefing reporters on the sidelines of inauguration of air cargo complex and CUTE facility at Mangalore Airport he said Air India too has identified few properties on an internal turnaround plan after complaints on poor financial management, weak performance and customer dissatisfaction.
On delay in payment of salaries to Air India staff, he said, “We have sorted out the issue. Now, there has been no complaints on delay payment.” On promotion, he said the process is on.
With regard to cargo trade in Mangalore, initially, scheduled flights will carry air cargo in passenger aircraft called ‘belly load.’ The new international air cargo terminal has an area of 1,400 square metre for international cargo and 1,100 square metre for domestic cargo. The complex has all standard storage facilities for valuable and sensitive cargo, unaccompanied baggage, cold storage. The CUTE facility will enhance operational efficiency, reduced turnaround time for aircraft and will replace the traditional processing of passenger baggage.
LNG regasification
ONGC-BPCL-Mitsui consortium signed an MoU with NMPT for the setting up of LNG regasification terminal in the presence of Union Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas Veerappa Moily, Chief Minister Jagadish Shettar and ONGC-BPCL-Mitsui and NMPT Chairman.
The consortium partners will carry out a feasibility study for setting up of a terminal of two to three million metric tonne per annum (MMTPA) capacity, which is expandable to five MMTPA.
The MoU documents the port’s no objection to carry out the feasibility studies. After the MoU, feasibility studies on the project will be carried out, including technical, marine, and environment dimensions. The studies will throw up concrete action plans, an investment decision which is expected by 2014. Moily said that the LNG regasification terminal will be ready by 2017-18.