Gaya: The much-awaited plan to expand the Gaya airport runway to facilitate the landing of bigger planes including the A-310 planes of the 757 series having a passenger capacity of 250 is in limbo as the villagers of Bishunganj in the airport vicinity have refused to part with their land to facilitate the expansion of the runway from the existing 750 ft to 900 ft. As of now, A-320 type planes with a passenger capacity of 140 can land at the airport thereby limiting the operation of the airport.
Nearly four times in area compared to the Patna Airport, the Gaya International Airport, as per AAI scheme of things, is to be developed as a standby airport to Dumdum to divert traffic from Kolkata to Gaya in emergency situations. But for that, another 100 acres of land is required. As of now, Gaya airport is spread over an area of 971 acres, a good part of which continues to be encroached by the nearby villagers. The additional 100 acres required for the runway expansion are to come from three different revenue villages including Bishunganj and Hario. Bishunganj alone accounts for 61 acres of land required for runway lengthening.
31/01/13 Abdul Qadir/Times of India
