Gujarat: Keshod airport to start operations from April 16

The Keshod airport in Junagadh district will be inaugurated on April 16 by the union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia and chief minister Bhupendra Patel. Initially, Mumbai-Keshod-Mumbai flight will operate three days a week.

The Keshod airport has been developed under the revival of the airports scheme of the government of India at the cost of Rs 25 crore. A 72-seater aircraft will fly between Mumbaiand Keshod. The airport authority is planning to add one more flight to Ahmedabad once the recarpeting work of the runway is completed.

Sasan-Gir, the last abode of Asiatic lions, is 50 km from Keshod. The flight connectivity is expected to boost tourism in Sasan as well as Gir National Park. At present, tourists coming from other states have to land at Rajkot airport and then undertake a 3-4 hours road journey to Sasan.

The tourist influx to Somnath temple is also expected to increase as the airport is just 55 km from Keshod. Earlier, the airport was to start operations on March 12 but was later postponed.

Junagadh district collector Rachit Raj held a meeting with concerned officials for the preparation of the inauguration ceremony on Wednesday.