In the wake of recent communal clashes, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh exhorted people to respect all religions, ideologies and maintain communal harmony. The Prime Minister visited Jaipur to lay foundation stone of the Kishangarh airport in Ajmer scheduled to get operational by 2016.
The Prime Minister said that smaller destinations across the country will have air connectivity with a network of more than 100 airports and planned to meet the expected passenger load capacity of 30 crore by 2020.
Minister of corporate affairs Sachin Pilot, who represents Ajmer constituency in Lok Sabha, termed the airport as a major achievement for the region. The Kishangarh is famous as a trade centre for the marble stone and located on national highway connecting Jaipur to Ajmer.
With Rajasthan heading for assembly polls the Prime Minister also laid the foundation stone for the Metro rail project phase 1[B] in Jaipur. He also dedicated to the nation a solar power plant constructed under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Solar Mission in the Rajasthan capital. The civil aviation minister Ajit Singh, chief minister Ashok Gehlot and union minister of state Sachin Pilot were also present at the function.
Stressing the need for peace and tranquility Dr Singh invoked Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti’s teachings. “Dargah of Khwaja Moinuddin Chishti presents a fine example of communal harmony and peace. People from all religion visit dargah to seek blessings and I believe that what we learn from the holy dargah is very significant today when some parts of the country are facing communal tension,” he said. “ Hinsa se koi fayda nahi hota (Nobody benefits from violence)” the Prime Minister observed.
On the move to connect smaller destinations with a network of airports the Prime Minister said: “ An ambitious scheme to develop a network of 100 smaller airports in the country is being implemented This will enhance air connectivity in the country. Kishangarh airport will be the first project under this scheme.”
Dr Singh said that the Kishangarh airport would be set up at an estimated cost of 161 crore in first phase. He said that this would speed up the economic activities and growth in the area.
“Ajmer is a noted tourist destination having famous dargah of Sufi saint Khwaja Moinuddin Chisti and Brahma temple in Pushkar town.Besides, the region is known for industries including that of marble and the new project of airport will push economic growth,” he said.
In Jaipur the Prime Minister laid the foundation stone for the metro train said towns were an engine for economic development. Dr Singh praised the state chief minister for his administration the working for the all round development of the state. He also lauded Mr Gehlot for his relentless efforts for the project. Dedicating the solar energy project to the nation the Prime Minister said the solar energy could be a source of energy security.