Surat: Navsari MP C R Paatil ensures that he speaks on airport development whenever he gets a chance at a public event. On Saturday, he again used the public forum in presence of Union textile minister Smriti Irani to announce that city will get international air connectivity before October 28.Paatil was speaking at Yarn Expo-2018’s inaugural function held at the Surat International Exhibition and Convention Centre (SIECC) in Sarsana.“I remember giving Rs 3 crore bank guarantee to Air India to operate Airbus between Delhi and Surat. AI accepted the offer and operated the flight. Within three months, they came to us with a request to take back the bank guarantee, which we refused. After one year, AI returned the bank guarantee with Rs 40 lakh interest amount,” Paatil said.Earlier, speaking at the launch of package for power loom sector in the presence of textile minister of state Ajay Tamta, Paatil had announced direct flights from Surat to Dubai and Sharjah to start from May-2018. However, May is long over and city is still awaiting international air connectivity.Last month, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) said the international operations from Surat airport will be permitted with effect from winter season i.e October or November.

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