The Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Praful Patel, on Thursday said Vadodara will have a new airport terminal of international standard by 2010 and that the ministry is already working towards starting international flights from Vadodara.

The minister who laid the foundation stone for the new terminal at Vadodara airport said, “The construction of the new terminal is the first step towards making it of international standard. The terminal will be ready by September-October 2010. International flights will follow.”

The minister, however, said the state government should provide land to the Airport Authority of India for expansion of the airport.

He said, “For starting international flights, we need around 25 acres of additional land. If the state government co-operates, we will be able to provide Vadodara an international airport.”

The minister further said that in the last four years the ministry has been successful in making air travel affordable for all the people. The aviation ministry is in the process of construction of airports in Rajkot, Jamnagar, Porbandar, Surat, Bhuj and Vadodara.

“We are in the process of developing several airports in Gujarat but the availability of land is a major problem. Though Gujarat government has been co-operating, land is still a problem,” said Patel.

The minister also welcomed proposals from corporates for development of airports in partnership with the government.

He said that cargo and cold storage services will also be started to connect farmers and the industries of the region with the world.

Meanwhile, local Congress leaders submitted an application asking the civil aviation minister to give new name to the Vadodara airport.

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