National
Upgraded Belagavi airport begins operation in Karnataka
Belagavi (Karnataka), Sep 14 (IANS) Union Civil Aviation Minister P. Ashok Gajapathi Raju on Thursday launched upgraded airport services at Sambra on the outskirts of Karnataka’s northwest city aimed at facilitating passenger and cargo traffic in the region.
“The upgraded airport will enable state-run and private airlines to operate daily more flights to and from strategically located Belagavi,” Belagavi Additional Deputy Commissioner Suresh Itnal told IANS here.
Located about 500km from Bengaluru and 480km from Mumbai, Belagavi has the potential to be part of the hub-and-spoke model of civil aviation, connecting Mangaluru, Hubballi, and Mysuru across the state and Panaji in neighbouring Goa.
“Though SpiceJet has been the lone operator with turboprop ATR-72 daily from Bengaluru to Mumbai vial Belagavi during day and vice versa, extension of the runway to 2,300 metres will enable it and other airlines to operate even Boeing or Airbus aircraft round the clock,” Itnal said.
“As the airport is fully equipped for any aircraft to land and take off in all-weather conditions, even chartered service can be operated with smaller aircraft or helicopters,” he said.
The upgraded airport could give a fillip to thousands of farmers to market their fruits, vegetables and flowers grown in the region throughout the year.
“We are looking forward to full-fledged cargo services from Belagavi due to its road and rail connectivity to major cities in south, west, central and northern states. With cold storage and supply chain, farmers and other stakeholders will benefit from the new airport,” the official said.
Budget carrier Indigo and Jet Airways evinced interest to commence their daily service to and from Belagavi, preferably in the regional circuit.
The Rs 110-crore upgraded airport boasts of new apron, air traffic control, taxiway, isolation bay and night instrumental landing system.
“The airport has the latest navigation and communication with safety systems and processes,” said its Director Rajesh Kumar Maurya on the occasion.
The state-run Airport Authority of India (AAI) will continue to operate the 360-acre airport, as in Mangaluru and Hubballi in the southern state.
Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah recalled that Belagavi airport was one of the oldest in the state, built in 1942 as a military base in the pre-Independence days.
“With a view to promoting regional air connectivity and converge, we are developing five minor airports at Shivamogga, Vijayapura, Kalaburagi, Hassan, and Ballari,” he said.
–IANS
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National
Foodman Vishal Singh Honored for Hunger Free World Mission in Bangkok
Lucknow: Vishal Singh, a renowned social worker from Lucknow, also known as Foodman, has once again made India proud. He was honored by the Happy Hands Gloves Cooperative Limited Company in Korathai, Thailand, for his work with the Hunger Free World Mission.
The Hunger Free World Mission’s meeting was held in Korathai, Thailand, under Vishal Singh’s leadership. Representatives from several countries, including Mr. Raja Dwivedi (Managing Director of Happy Hands Gloves Limited), Thailand Coordinator Mr. Raja Mishra, and member Mr. Varun Singh, attended the event.
Under Vishal Singh’s leadership, the attendees took a pledge to work together toward creating a hunger-free world.
Speaking on the occasion, Vishal Singh explained that the main goal of the Hunger Free World Mission is social participation. He said the mission is not just about feeding people but also about meeting other basic needs of those who are struggling. The mission focuses on helping families of terminally ill patients in hospitals by providing food and shelter. It also works to fulfill essential needs like education, jobs, and care for the elderly.
For the last 16 years, the Vijay Sri Foundation has been providing free services, benefiting thousands of people. Vishal Singh highlighted that the mission aims to gain global recognition like other organizations such as WHO, WWF, and Red Cross, which work for social causes.
During this meeting, Vishal Singh was appointed as the Chairman of the Hunger Free World Mission by representatives from various countries. They also discussed holding regular meetings in different countries to push the mission forward.
Business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has also supported this humanitarian mission, vowing to promote the idea of “Seva Parmo Dharma” (Service is the highest duty) worldwide. Vishal Singh praised him, stating that people like Dr .Abhishek Verma inspire others to work for the betterment of society.
Recently, Romania’s Ambassador, Mr . Daniela Sezonov Ţane, invited Vishal Singh to the Romanian Embassy in Delhi, where they discussed the mission in detail. Impressed by his humanitarian work, she honored Vishal Singh and invited him to Romania to take the mission forward .
Food man Vishal Singh has been serving the people of India for the past 16 years. Through the Vijay Sri Foundation, he provides free meals to cancer patients & their families ,shelter, and education for women & children along with running free old-age homes in Lucknow.
In addition to his humanitarian work, Vishal Singh also addresses issues like crime and corruption through his role as Chairman of Seva Path Media and Managing Director of Vijay Sri Foundation.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, Vishal Singh and his team worked tirelessly to provide food and help to the needy, including starving children, elderly citizens, and pregnant women. Despite contracting the virus himself, he continued to assist others after his recovery. He even created a life-saving oxygen regulator using household items, which was praised by doctors both in India and abroad.
In his address at the meeting, Vishal Singh spoke about his mission to create a hunger-free world. He pointed out that India’s large population, along with issues like unemployment and poverty, has caused the country to fall on the Hunger Index. He urged people to contribute just one handful of grains daily to help create a hunger-free world.
He concluded by saying that through social participation, we can empower the people around us, meet their basic needs, and work together to build a stronger, more prosperous, and developed society.