International status for airport
The fact that legitimate calls from different quarters to declare the status of Madurai airport as an international airport have yet to receive due consideration from the Union government is a matter of concern. While Vijayawada, Tirupathi, and Shirdi airports were already declared international airports, Madurai airport, which attracts a large number of international passengers, still remains a customs airport. Given the potential the international airport status holds for Madurai in transforming the city into a major trading and industrial hub of the State, it is time the union government declared Madurai airport as an international airport while taking concerted steps to upgrade the facilities in the airport without delay.
M. Jeyaram,