Airport Authority of India to downsize Patna ‘Clock Tower’

Patna: The tall structure of the majestic state secretariat building — a hallmark of the state capital — is at risk of losing its identity. While to most the ‘Clock Tower’ — a magnificent architectural wonder of the British period — is a resplendent city feature, to the Airports Authority of India (AAI)
it is an encumberance, which has to be downsized by 30-35 feet if operation of wide-bodied aircraft without load restriction has to begin at its present location.
That’s not all. Some 3,700-plus trees in the Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park, a protected forest, falling in the approach funnel of aircraft, also need to be lopped off.
There is more. The AAI has also requested the state government to consider providing it 111 acres (approx) of additional land required for extension of the runway towards western side to carve out the needed 9000 feet tarmac length for operation of wide-bodied aircraft.
The total usable runway length of Patna airport is 6409 feet. However, because of obstructions — trees and the secretariat tower on the one end and the railway cabin on the other — the landing distance available for aircraft on runway 025 (zoo side) is 5,971.12 feet and 5,501.96 feet on runway 007 (Phulwarisharif side). In technical parlance, the ‘threshold displacement’ because of the obstructions is 439 feet on runway 025 and 908 feet on runway 07.
22/08/10 Ruchir Kumar/Hindustan Times

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Categories: airports aug 2010