Centre urged to grant funds for Puducherry airport expansion

Speaking to media persons here, Rao said that he along with CM V Narayanasamy held discussions in this regard with Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu in New Delhi on Tuesday. 

The issue of expansion of Puducherry airport was discused with Prabhu, who was  requested to take necessary steps to provide Rs 750 crore to purchase 250 acres of land from Tamil Nadu, Rao said. There is a proposal to start a direct air service from Puducherry to Kochi and Tirupati. 

Rao further said there is a proposal to set up a super specialty hospital at Saidarapet here on behalf of Jipmer with organ transplant facilities at a cost of Rs 1,400 crore. Union Health Minister JP Nadda was requested to expedite the project, Rao said, adding that the minister informed that a sum of Rs 564 crore was allotted for the project and the preliminary work would commence in another ten days. 

Steps are being taken to start a branch of Jipmer in Yanam region. A Jipmer team would visit Mahe region once in a  month to give specialty treatment, Rao said. 

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu has been requested to set up a regional centre of the sports university at the Pondicherry Central University, of which he is the Chancellor.