It is like moving one step forward, two steps backward for the NDA Government at the Centre in converting the Rourkela aerodrome of the Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) into a full-fledged airport for operation of commercial flights.
The Airport Authority of India (AAI), particularly, has behaved peculiarly in case of Rourkela airport. In 2007, a team of AAI and in 2014 another AAI team had recommended immediate resumption of services of ATR type aircraft with minor modification of the airport having huge surplus expandable area.
While the RSP expressed its readiness to extend all necessary support, the AAI dropped a bombshell four months back. It informed RSP that as a major airport is coming up at Jharsuguda, at an aerial distance of about 86 kms, Rourkela airport will not be economically viable.
Questioning the sincerity of AAI, former president of Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Subrata Patnaik wondered whether it was not aware of Jharsuguda airport when its team recommended for Rourkela airport. He said the Jharsuguda airport would take another four years to be functional and it does not have even refuelling facility. The new civil aviation policy insists on connecting new areas and what is stopping AAI to meet the legitimate demand of the commercially viable Rourkela city remains unanswered, Patnaik added.
Meanwhile, Union Petroleum Ministry on 5 March installed Aviation Fuel Station (AFS) with Minister of State (MoS) for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurating it at the Rourkela airport. Pradhan said the local economy is in doldrums with recent recession in the core steel sector and an alternative business eco-system is needed. The permanent AFS is a step in the direction to ensure operation of commercial flights, he added.
09/03/16 Prasamjeet Sarkar/The New Indian Express
To Read the News in full at Source, Click the Headline
The Airport Authority of India (AAI), particularly, has behaved peculiarly in case of Rourkela airport. In 2007, a team of AAI and in 2014 another AAI team had recommended immediate resumption of services of ATR type aircraft with minor modification of the airport having huge surplus expandable area.
While the RSP expressed its readiness to extend all necessary support, the AAI dropped a bombshell four months back. It informed RSP that as a major airport is coming up at Jharsuguda, at an aerial distance of about 86 kms, Rourkela airport will not be economically viable.
Questioning the sincerity of AAI, former president of Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) Subrata Patnaik wondered whether it was not aware of Jharsuguda airport when its team recommended for Rourkela airport. He said the Jharsuguda airport would take another four years to be functional and it does not have even refuelling facility. The new civil aviation policy insists on connecting new areas and what is stopping AAI to meet the legitimate demand of the commercially viable Rourkela city remains unanswered, Patnaik added.
Meanwhile, Union Petroleum Ministry on 5 March installed Aviation Fuel Station (AFS) with Minister of State (MoS) for Petroleum Dharmendra Pradhan inaugurating it at the Rourkela airport. Pradhan said the local economy is in doldrums with recent recession in the core steel sector and an alternative business eco-system is needed. The permanent AFS is a step in the direction to ensure operation of commercial flights, he added.
09/03/16 Prasamjeet Sarkar/The New Indian Express
