Diamond barons get nod to import private aircraft

Surat:

Soon

, diamond barons in the world’s largest diamond cutting and polishing centre in Surat will fly high in their first private aircraft.

The Directorate of General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) has given the permission to the promoters of the city-based Ventura Airconnect, an airline company started by two diamond barons and a realtor, to import the four-seater aircraft for their private use. The promoters of Ventura Airconnect include Govind Dholakia, chairman of Shri Ramkrishna Exports (SRK); Savji Dholakia, chairman of Shri Hari Krishna Exports and a realtor Lavji Dalia.

This will be the first private aircraft to be imported in the city for private use from US. The four-seater aircraft is Cessna 182 Skylane and it will be used for private travel only.

Sources said that the aircraft has been purchased at the cost of Rs 6 crore. Due to the bad weather, the aircraft will be flying from Kansas in US in a day or two.

At present, the Ventura Airconnect company is operating flights from Surat to Bhavnagar and Amreli on daily basis. The company is using two nine-seater Cessna Grand Caravan aircrafts on these routes.

Talking with TOI, one of the promoters Dholakia said, “This is our first private aircraft. The aircraft is equipped with all latest navigation system and software and that it will be used for our personal travelling to Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Mumbai and Amreli.”