Mangalore air crash: Four years on, promises remain unfulfilled

May 22, 2014

Mangalore, May 22: Four years ago, exactly on this day the flight Air India Express IX-812 crashed at Mangalore International Airport after having overshot the runway. As many as 158 people including the flight crew were killed when the Boeing 737 crashed into a ravine on the periphery of the airport on May 22, 2010.

However, the condolences and promises made by the Union and state government in the initial stages have remained unfulfilled till today. Assurances of a permanent memorial for the air crash victims, construction of a community hall, a health centre in the limits of the air crash site and widening of the runway at the airport have been all but ignored by the authorities.

In early September 2013, the Union government held that all the 160 cases of payout pertaining to the AIE air crash had been settled with a total outflow of Rs 115.74 crore.

Community hall yet to be realised

On the first anniversary of the air crash, Air India Chief Executive Officer S Chandrakumar had announced the proposal to construct a community hall, a health centre and a public library in the memory of the 158 victims that were killed, in the Malavoor gram panchayat limits near the actual site of the air crash.

He had said that the management of Air India would disburse 90 percent of the cost of the overall construction, while the Malavoor gram panchayat had agreed to pay the rest. However, the promises are yet to be realised.

Air India wants to identify land in Maravoor

Few days before the fourth anniversary of the tragedy, the Malavoor gram panchayat was told over a phone call from the Air India headquarters in Delhi to identify land for the construction of the community hall, which would also house the proposed health centre in the same building in the gram panchayat limits. It is said that the Air India intended to give a sum of Rs 20 -25 lakhs in this direction. However, there has been no written correspondence concerning the same.

The memorial that was erected at the site of the air crash in memory of the 158 victims two months after the crash was vandalized by miscreants before the first anniversary of the air crash. Although the actual site of the air crash is a private property, the memorial bearing the names of the 158 victims was installed without the permission of the property owner. The investigation team which probed the reason behind the fateful crash of the flight AIE IX-812 had recommended that the concerned authorities ought to purchase the land from its present owner. However, no progress has been made in this regard.

Widening of runway shelved

Following the disaster, the then-Minister for Civil Aviation Praful Patel had declared that the runway at the Mangalore International Airport would be widened from 8,000 feet to 9,000 feet. However, the union government did not take keen interest in the proposed widening of the runway. Neither did the state government acquire the land necessary for the widening of the runway.

And with this, there are no major international flights operating from Mangalore International Airport despite the airport acquiring an international tag.

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Clean and Green on Wheels: Mangaluru’s Push for Electric Public Transport

News Network

November 13,2024

In the heart of Mangaluru, where rising air pollution is spurring public health worries, voices are calling for a greener, cleaner shift in the city’s public transport. Leading this call is APD Foundation, a Mangaluru-based environmental NGO, which has urged Forest, Ecology, and Environment Minister Eshwar Khandre to mandate electric vehicle (EV) adoption in public transport.

Abdullah A Rehman, CEO of APD Foundation, emphasized in a formal letter to the minister that Mangaluru’s public transportation system—efficient and organized with both government and private players—could transition smoothly to EVs in stages. He suggested that government-backed financial incentives, partnerships with EV manufacturers, and collaborations with environmental groups could streamline the switch.

Rehman stressed the potential of EVs to cut down emissions, enhance air quality, and reduce noise levels, noting the quieter operation of electric buses. He confirmed that a copy of his letter was submitted to the Deputy Commissioner as well.

However, Dilraj Alva from the Dakshina Kannada City Bus Association noted potential challenges, explaining that the shift might take up to two years due to infrastructure and budget hurdles. Most EV buses, he explained, are procured through aggregators, not directly by individual operators. The addition of charging stations and other essential infrastructure further complicates the transition.

Alva also raised the economic concern: while diesel buses are priced between ₹30-40 lakh, electric buses can cost up to ₹1 crore. Reflecting on recent meetings with companies, including one in Manipal, he questioned the assumption that EVs are an absolute solution to pollution. “EVs aren’t entirely eco-friendly, especially when considering battery disposal,” he cautioned.

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