Army bails out Birsa Munda Airport

Ranchi: The army has stepped in to ensure the much-awaited expansion plans of the capital’s airport aren’t grounded because of scarcity of land.
At a recent high-level meeting with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and state government officials, the army said its land on the eastern side of the Birsa Munda Airport — now being used by its helicopters to land and take-off — could be used to extend the airport.
“The helicopter bay of the army would be relocated and the land would be used for the expansion of the airport,” said a delighted Birsa Munda Airport director A.V. Krishna.
The AAI, he said, would soon begin work on the new airport, which would include a portion of the present airport area in addition to the army land.
“We want to make the new airport operational by 2010,” he added.
The army chopper bay dates back to World War II and will now have to be relocated to make way for the Ranchi airport.
“As land availability for the airport’s expansion is still an issue, we have decided to use the available land with the army,” said Krishna who attended the high-level meeting where the decision was taken.
30/09/08 Santosh K. Kiro/The Telegraph

To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline

Categories: Airports Sep 2008, New Sep 2008