Moodabidri: The new international airport at Kenjaru in Mangalore handled over 8.25 lakh passengers as compared to only 2.77 lakh handled in 2005, so Passenger transport here has grown by leaps and boundaries in the last 6 years, said MR Vasudeva, Director of DK airport in Mangalore, talking at Swaraj Maidan in Moodabidri during Tulu Folk Sports Meet organized here by the Diamond Jubilee Celebrations Committee of the Airport on Sunday.
He added that the Mangalore Airport at Bajpe /Kenjaru had played a crucial role in altering the economic life of the people for the better, on the west coast.
Dr. D Veerendra Heggade of Dharmasthala inaugurated the rural sports meet. Local MLA K Abhaya Chandra Jain stated that Rs.40 lakhs had been released out of Rs.60 lakhs sanctioned by the state government to construct a Pavilion and other connected works at Swaraj Maidan.
A plan involving an expenditure of Rs.1.50 crores was drafted to develop the Maidan fully in many ways in near future.
Mangalore University Registrar Prof. K. Chinnappa Gowda, D. Sudheendra Kumar, Dr. H Yashovarma, KCCI Chairman G.G Mohandas Prabhu, Moodabidri, Narayana Devadiga and K. Tejomaya, coordinator of celebrations, were present on the joyous occasion.