Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, Union Minister of Civil Aviation, has written to the Chief Ministers of Goa, Himachal, Karnataka and Gujarat requesting their personal intervention in expediting the matters for strengthening of aviation infrastructure in their states. AAI has embarked upon development and expansion of airports in the country at a cost of Rs. 20,000 crore in the next 4-5 years in order to meet the growing passenger demand in the country.
Scindia has drawn attention of Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on various issues that are impacting the implementation of various projects pertaining to aviation sector in Goa. He mentioned that long back AAI had requested for 20.48 acres of land for construction of city side car parking and other infrastructural work at Goa Airport. Cost of acquisition was also paid by AAI to the State Government of Goa. However, notification for acquisition was issued by the State Government in respect of 15.50 acres only, out of which 9.23 acres is yet to be handed over to AAI.
Scindia has also drawn attention of Himachal Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur on following issues that are impacting the implementation of various projects pertaining to aviation sector in Himachal Pradesh:
· AAI has projected a land requirement of 13 acres at Shimla airport for strengthening of runway and construction of AAI Residential Colony. Further, the State Government has been requested to extend support for removal of obstacles and provide requisite land for making Shimla airport compatible for operation of ATR-72 type of aircraft.
· The State Govt. has been requested to complete the infrastructure works at Shimla, Mandi, Manali and Baddi for operationalization of these heliports at the earliest.
· An amount of Rs. 1.44 crores is outstanding on the part of State Government as VGF share for Regional Air Connectivity Fund Trust (RACFT).
Scindia also drew attention of Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Somappa Bommai on following issues that are impacting the implementation of various projects pertaining to aviation sector in Karnataka:
· AAI has projected land requirement of 370 acres at Belagavi airport, out of which only 348.6 acres have been handed over.
· Similarly, AAI has requisitioned for allocation of 240 acres at Mysore Airport. However, the said land is yet to be handed over by the State Government.
· The Govt. of Karnataka may take necessary steps to operationalize Shivamoga and Vijayapura airports so that the bids received under RCS-UDAN 4.1 can be considered for award. Further, the State Govt. needs to communicate its consent for 100% VGF support for the routes to be awarded from these two airports as these are part of State Regional Connectivity Scheme (SCRS).
· An amount of Rs. 7.55 Crores is outstanding on part of the State Government as VGF share for Regional Air Connectivity Fund Trust (RACFT).
To Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani, Scindia highlighted following issues that are impacting the implementation of various projects pertaining to aviation sector in Gujarat:
· 490.36 acres of land is required at Bhavnagar airport for making it suitable for operation of AB-320 type of aircraft.
· 17.38 acres of land is required at Jamnagar airport for development of city side infrastructure.
· 322.85 acres of land is required at Kandla airport for making it suitable for operation of AB-320 type of aircraft.
· 434.5 acres of land is required at Porbandar airport for revision of orientation of runway and making it suitable for operation of AB-320 type of aircraft.
· 18.33 acres of land is required at Vadodara airport for basic strip requirements and parallel taxi track.
· 96.93 acres of land is required at Surat airport for installation of CAT-I approach lighting system and extension of runway. The State Government has also been requested for allocation of 2100 acres of land at Surat airport for development of 2nd runway.
· The State Government has been requested to clear the dues of Seaplane operation for operations between Sabarmati River Front and Kevadia.
· An amount of Rs. 0.47 Crores is outstanding on the part of State Government as VGF share for Regional Air Connectivity Fund Trust (RACFT).
Scindia has drawn attention of Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren on following issues that are impacting the implementation of various projects pertaining to aviation sector in Jharkhand:
For upgradation and development of Ranchi Airport, AAI has projected a land requirement of 506.4 acres, which is yet to be handed over to AAI.
Similarly, AAI requires 545 acres of land for development of Dhalbhumgarh airport to make it suitable for operations of A-320 type of aircraft.
The State Government has to complete the approach road to Deoghar airport, which is otherwise almost ready to be operationalized.
