Limited Flights From Naval Base Near Chennai Today
Mangalore Today News Network
New Delhi, Dec 04, 2015: Limited commercial flight operations are likely to start from the Rajali naval air station in Arakkonam near Chennai today, the Civil Aviation Ministry said on Thursday. Seven flights will be operated by Air India and a few private airlines.
Rajali is located around 60 kilometres from Chennai.
As many as 100 people are still stranded at the Chennai airport which has been shut till December 6, and their evacuation is expected to be completed by Friday morning, the Ministry had said.
Briefing reporters about plans to restore flight connectivity from Chennai, Civil Aviation Secretary RN Choubey said a plan is being made to operate at least six flights on Friday and Saturday.
"These flights would be operated from Rajali naval base," he said, adding that Air India, IndiGo and SpiceJet have indicated that they will operate flights.
The proposal is for limited commercial flight operations and not for evacuation of people, Mr Choubey said.
Minister of State for Civil Aviation Mahesh Sharma said the proposed flights from the Rajali naval base would offer tickets at low prices.
"(For these flights) the airlines will charge Rs. 1,000 for destinations in the South and Rs. 2,000 for destinations in the North," Mr Sharma said.
He also said that passengers would only be allowed to carry hand baggage and not check-in baggage.
Shuttle train services are available from Chennai airport at an interval of 15 minutes to travel to Rajali, he said.
Ministry officials said that the Chennai airport is safe and there had been no report so far of any damage to aircraft grounded there.
On Wednesday, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had said 34 aircraft of various airlines were grounded at the Chennai airport.
With the airport inundated following heavy rain, the Navy’s base at Arakkonam is serving as a makeshift airport for supplying relief material as well as for bringing in teams of the National Disaster Response Force.