City falls off state's aviation map

SURAT: Already upset over the step-motherly treatment given to their airport, Surtis were dismayed at the fact that Surat airport did not find any mention in the written reply given by state aviation minister Saurabh Patel on the issue of intrastate air connectivity and existing airports in the state.
Patel's written reply on March 7 to question No 201 by Lalsi Vadodariya of Umreth said that at present there are eight airports in the state run by AAI; namely Ahmedbad, Vadodara, Bhavnagar, Rajkot, Porbandar, Kandla, Deesa and Kesod, with last three being non-operational.It added that three airports were under the Indian Air Force in Bhuj, Jamnagar and Naliya and three were run by the state government in Amreli, Mehsana and Mandvi.
On the issue of intrastate air connectivity, the minister replied that they are planning to set up 11 new airports in the state. They include Dwarka, Ambaji, Palitana, Ankleshwar, Dahej, Morbi, Rajkot, Parsoli, Rajpipla and Dholavira apart from international airport at Dholera.
Nowhere was there a mention of Surat airport which is operational and has a daily flight operating to and from Delhi. Reacting bitterly, vice-president of South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SGCCI) Atul Mehta said, "We are disturbed. Till now we have been questioning the seriousness of the central government. Now we have to ask about the seriousness of our state government too."
SGCCI president Ajoy Bhattacharya felt that it could be a mistake. "Surat does have an airport and it is operational. But it is also a fact that we are deprived of our rightful connectivity," he said.
Meanwhile, minister for state for civil aviation Saurabh Patel said, that it was not intentional. It is typo error and Surat does exist on state governments aviation map and is an important airport for us."