Link the Nilgiris by air

Udhagamandalam:

When will the Nilgiris be put on the air map of India? Earlier, prospective beneficiaries had justified the demand for an air link by stating that an internationally renowned hill station like Udhagamandalam should have such a facility.
Now even the middle class people have joined the chorus. Their contention was that such a facility would do a world of good for tourism and be a life saver during medical emergencies.
While the Mettupalayam-Ooty-Gudalur highway, which has served the Nilgiris for several decades, has of late become increasingly undependable on account of natural calamities, the alternative Mettupalayam-Kotagiri-Ooty highway was under tremendous pressure.
The Nilgiris Mountain Railway connecting Mettupalayam and Udhagamandalam was a major tourist attraction but it cannot serve the purpose of foreign and domestic tourists who are not able to spare much time.
Expressing the view that it was high time, the district was linked by air, the Nilgiris Collector, Santosh K. Misra, told The Hindu that the administration was exploring various options.
Since the district was very popular vis-à-vis school education. Children from different parts of the country and the world were studying here.
An air service would boost educational tourism. A survey conducted recently had revealed that it would be very difficult to provide a fixed wing service. On account of the altitude and technical problems a runway extending over about 3.2 km would be needed.
Such a large open area was very difficult to identify in the Nilgiris. Hence the administration would try to facilitate a chopper service. The secretary, Nilgiris Hotels and Restaurants Association, N. Chandrashekar, said that an air service was a long standing demand of the hospitality and travel industries here.
Pointing out that this hill station had one of the most challenging golf courses in the world, he said that an air link would help promote golf tourism.
Some of the environmentalists who had earlier opposed such a service, said that if it can be introduced without causing much harm to the flora and fauna it would be welcomed. The authorities should strike a harmonious balance between development and conservation. Persons familiar with point to point helicopter services said that if the government gives the green signal it would not take long to establish.

Source: The Hindu

More: Nearest Airport to Udhagamandalam (Ooty) is Coimbatore. (Coimbatore Peelamedu Airport). By Road From Ooty To Coimbatore 100 Kms, To Bangalore 290 Kms & To Cochin 281 Kms.

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