Civil Aviation minister requests CMs of 5 states to strengthen aviation infrastructure

AAI has embarked upon development and expansion of airports in the country at a cost of INR 20,000 crore

Dimapur, Aug. 27 (EMN): The Union Minister of Civil Aviation, Jyotiraditya M Scindia, has written to Chief Ministers of five states — Nagaland, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh (MP), Maharashtra, and Odisha — requesting their personal intervention in expediting the matters for strengthening of aviation infrastructure in their respective state.

The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has embarked upon development and expansion of airports in the country at a cost of INR 20,000 crore in the next 4-5 years in order to meet the growing passenger demand in the country, the Ministry of Civil Aviation informed in statement.

In a letter to Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio, Scindia said that in Phase-1, a land area of 107 acres is required for extension of runway by 310m for operations of AB-320 type of aircraft.

“In Phase-2, land area of 230 acres is required for city side development, extension of runway by 600m and runway strip clearance for operations of AB-320 type of aircraft along with hangars, RESA (Runway End Safety Area) and Isolation Bay,” the statement said.

It went on to say that till July 31, 2021, an amount of INR 18 lakh was outstanding on part of the state government as Viability Gap Funding (VGF) share for Regional Air Connectivity Fund Trust (RACFT).

In his letter to Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan, the Union Minister wrote that the state government was yet to hand over 152.5 acres of land as projected by the AAI and an amount of INR5.29 crore was outstanding as state’s VGF share against RACFT.

Similarly, Scindia wrote to MP CM Shivraj Singh Chouhan, mentioning that 20.67 acres of land outside the airport boundary was required at Bhopal airport; 20 acres at Khajuraho airport; 110 acres at Gwalior airport; and 2314.52 acre at Indore Airport.

The CM was also informed that INR 1.79 crore was outstanding as state’s VGF share for RACFT.

CM of Maharashtra Uddhav Balasaheb Thackeray was also told that 84.26 acres of land was yet to be handed over at Akola airport. He was also apprised of the land requirements at Aurangabad airport, Gondia airport and Kolhapur airport.

‘An amount of INR 95 crore has been allocated for development of Amravati and Ratnagiri airports and that the state government needs to develop them for commencing RCS – UDAN operations,’ it said, adding that INR 12.02 crore was outstanding as state’s VGF share for RACFT.

Scindia also wrote Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik, reminding him that land requirements for Phase –II expansion of the Jharsuguda airport was yet to be handed over and that Jeypore and Utkela airports need to be developed at the earliest.

The CM was also told that an amount of INR 1.48 crores was outstanding on part of the state government as VGF share for RACFT, according to Civil Aviation Ministry.