Singapore wants direct flight to Madurai a project put on hold 12 years ago

Singapore government has urged India to start a direct flight from the island

nation to Madurai to cater to the requirement of lakhs of Tamil Origin people living there.

Singapore Home Minister K Shanmugam requested Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to take steps for starting direct flight service between Singapore and Madurai.

Shanmugam made this request when Stalin called on him in Singapore and held discussions. Stalin assured Shanmugam that he would take up this matter with the Union government after returning home.

Way back in 2011, Singapore government formally requested the civil aviation ministry for landing rights in Madurai airport for its budget airlines. It was turned down by the then UPA government

The airport infrastructure in Madurai remains pathetic that the airport authority of India is unable to arrange for central Industrial force to maintain the airport at nights. This means not many international flights to the one hundred year old airport. Hardly few international flights mostly from Sri Lanka land at Madurai. The airport expansion program is moving at snail’s pace since it is not a priority for both the Central and state governments. Besides passenger traffic lot of potential exists for earning freight revenue,

On the occasion, the chief minister also invited Shanmugam to take part in the Global Investors Meet to be held in Chennai on January 10 and 11, 2024.

Stalin discussed with Shanmugam methodology for assessing procurement systems initiative, expanding support for cyber security adoption in industries, service firms, and government agencies, improving cyber security framework for state agencies, and cooperation to be extended to TN police. Industries Minister TRB Rajaa, Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu, Industries Secretary S Krishnan and senior officials were present.