Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh today laid the foundation stone of Kishangarh Airport near Ajmer in Rajasthan. Speaking on the occasion, he said that government is implementing an ambitious plan to connect small cities with air services and 100 airports will be developed in small cities in near future.

Kishangarh will be the first airport under this plan. One hundred and sixty one crore rupees will be spend on the Kishangarh Airport and it will be completed by 2016. Dr. Singh said airports are essential for development and the Kishangarh airport will enhance tourism and industry in Rajasthan. He said, the number of air passengers is increasing and it will cross 30 crore till 2020.

The Prime Minister said that there is a need of heavy investment from both the government and private sector to develop infrastructure for civil aviation. Dr. Singh appealed countrymen to maintain tradition of peace, harmony and brotherhood. He said that violence and hatred will not benefit anybody and India should follow the great tradition of respecting all religion and ideology.