New Delhi: The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has told a Parliamentary Committee that the unavailability of proper land has been hampering the government of India’s bid to expand its civil aviation sector. Officials from the Aviation Ministry said that the much-needed Bhiwadi Airport in Rajasthan, Sabarimala Airport in Kerala, Gaya Airport as well as Civil Enclave at Bihta in Bihar have been struggling due to the unavailability of land.
Significantly, the Aviation Ministry has already given the approval to construct airports and Civil Enclaves in these States. The Ministry informed the Parliamentary Committee that the Airport Authority of India (AAI) has projected a land requirement of 191.5 acres for a runway extension and eight acres for apron extension and city-side development to make the Civil Enclave at Bihta suitable for the operation of wide-bodied aircraft. “However, the land is yet to be handed over by the State Government.
Further development of the Civil Enclave is subject to the handing over of requisite land by the State government of Bihar. As regards the expansion of Gaya Airport, the Ministry informed that initially, 200 acres requirement for expansion of Gaya Airport was forwarded to the Bihar government way back in August 2009, which included 70 acres for runway extension, 30 acres for approach lights and 100 acres for future airport expansion. “Subsequently, based on the site conditions, the land requirement was revised to 212.76 acres, which included 70 acres for runway extension, 42.76 acres for approach lights and 100 acres for future airport expansion. This was forwarded to the Bihar government in July 2017. Out of this, 23.84 acres have been handed over to AAI for approach lights, runway extension and for future airport expansion remains to be handed over by the State government,” officials informed.
The Ministry further stated that on request of the Bihar government, a pre-feasibility study of the sites identified by the State government at Nalanda was conducted by AAI in 2009. Subsequently, another site was identified by the State government near the Punpun River.
“Both the sites were not found suitable for development of Greenfield Airport due to technical reasons,” officials said.
16/09/2023 ETV Bharat
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