Coimbatore : Nilgiris MP and DMK Leader,A Raja has requested the Civil Aviation Ministry to consider operation of flights from the city to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok for the benefits of people in seven districts and also adjacent states like Kerala.

In a letter to the Minister of State for Civil Aviation Hardip Singh Puri, the copy of which was released to the press, Raja said Coimbatore is the second largest city by area and population in Tamil Nadu after Chennai and 16th largest agglomeration in India.

The district is one of the largest exporters of textiles, garments, hosiery, jewellery, wet grinder, poultry, machine tools and auto components and Coimbatore is called the ‘Manchester of South India’. It is also the second largest producer of software in the State, the former union minister said.

Coimbatore Airport caters to the needs of Tirupur, Erode, Nilgiris, Dindugal, and Salem districts of Tamil Nadu and even people from Kerala come to Coimbatore to go to foreign countries, he said.

The illustrious people of these areas, industrialists, business community, labourers and tourists find it difficult without having direct flights to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok. They take a longer route to reach their destination which causes loss of money and valuable time, Raja pointed out.

Stating that a commercial viability study conducted by the ministry had reportedly been in favour of this, Raja requested the minister to consider operations of flight to Dubai, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok so that people from these districts and adjacent States could be benefitted.