Plan to develop Puducherry airport with Indo-French joint venture firm

A project to upgrade facilities at the Puducherry airport with the assistance of an Indo-French joint venture firm was among the topics discussed at a meeting between the visiting Ambassador of France in India Thierry Mathou and Chief Minister N. Rangasamy on Tuesday (November 11, 2025).

An official press note said the French Ambassador, who is on a four-day visit to the Union Territory, conveyed to the Chief Minister that the Indian conglomerate GMR Group, in which a French company Groupe ADP has a substantial stake, had evinced interest in improving the airport.

The topic of improving the city’s connectivity, through the airport in particular, cropped up in relation to the discussions on the development of tourism sector, as the region has been witnessing high volumes of visitors every year.

Mr. Mathou also pointed to an active proposal for introducing a direct flight from India to Reunion Island, a French overseas department in the Indian Ocean which has historical and cultural links with Puducherry and nearby Tamil-speaking regions through centuries of out-bound migration of workers to the island’s plantations.

The Chief Minister was briefed about plans for a direct Indigo flight between Reunion Island and either Mumbai or Bengaluru. (At present, flights to Reunion Island have layovers en route).

Tourism Minister K. Lakshminarayanan, Civil Supplies Minister PRN Thirumurugan, S. Ramesh, MLA, R. Kesavan, Local Administration Secretary, Aman Sharma, Director of Education, R. Mounissamy, Director of Information and French Consul General in Puducherry Etienne Rolland-Piegue were present at the meeting.

The Ambassador and the Chief Minister also discussed the deep links between Puducherry and France, and how the Union Territory could act as a bridge for the two countries, in particular for the overseas territories interested in having deeper relations with India like the Reunion Island, the press note said.

Earlier, a solemn ceremony to offer remembrance to soldiers who sacrificed their lives in the first Great War was organised at the French War Memorial to mark the 107th anniversary of the end of the World War I in 1918.

The French Ambassador, French Consul General in Puducherry, Sophie Briante Guillemont, French Senator for French citizens living abroad, and District Collector A. Kulothungan, who represented the Government of Puducherry, laid floral wreaths and paid tributes to the soldiers who lost their lives during the World War I.

Earlier, the national flags of India and France were hoisted and the national anthems of both countries were played. A moment’s silence was also observed.