Ground survey carried out for expansion of existing airstrip
Nishikant Khajuria
JAMMU, Oct 29: A high-level special team, comprising officials from the Ministry of Civil Aviation and the Airports Authority of India (AAI), visited Kishtwar and assessed the feasibility of developing an airport there under the UDAN scheme.
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Official sources told the Excelsior that the 5-member team visited the proposed site and carried out a ground level assessment of the area and feasibility of expansion of existing Kishtwar airstrip for running operations of small 72-seater aircraft.
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The team also had a detailed meeting with Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar, Pankaj Sharma focusing on aspects such as land acquisition, infrastructure requirements, and operational feasibility, sources added.
The five-member team, comprising Anil Verma, Joint General Manager, Communication & Navigation Surveillances; Gaurav Raghuvanshi, Joint General Manager (ATM-FPD); Krishnan Udayabhanu Rao, Jt GM (ATM); Sushil Chandra Verma , Jt GM (Operations) and Pankaj Sahu, MGR (Planning), will soon submit its detailed report to the higher authorities for further action on its observations and recommendations.
The high-level team of AAI and Civil Aviation reached Kishtwar yesterday and after detailed meeting with the Deputy Commissioner Pankaj Sharma last evening, visited the site of proposed airport today.
During the site visit, the team was accompanied by Additional DC, Kishtwar, Pawan Kotwal (Nodal Officer), and other officers from the district administration.
The visiting team members carried out a comprehensive survey of the area taking precise measurements and assessing various technical aspects to determine the feasibility of the airport project, sources said.
Outlining their findings, the team will submit its recommendations and based on this report, a roadmap for further development of the airport will be charted out, sources added.
According to the sources, the visiting team observed that out of the total 1000-meter stretch of the existing airstrip at Kishtwar (with a breadth of 50 meters), approximately 700 meters have already been taken over by the Army. Specifically, 34 Kl-15 Ml of land has been acquired (excluding the Chowgan Ground), while 58 Kl-11 Ml has been placed under requisition, sources added.
In addition, a 300-meter stretch comprising 46 Kl-14 Ml has been acquired by the Civil Aviation Department through the district administration. However, the disbursement of compensation to the interested landowners is yet to be carried out, as an amount of Rs 1.89 crore remains to be released by the Civil Aviation Department.
The matter regarding the proposed expansion of the airstrip-from the existing length of 1000 meters to 1500 meters and breadth from 50 meters to 150 meters-was earlier taken up with the Commissioner / Secretary, Civil Aviation Department, during a meeting held on 29-10-2020. Following up on that discussion, office of Deputy Commissioner Kishtwar had drawn up and forwarded a comprehensive report laying out the technical and administrative contours of the proposal.
Pursuant to this, a preliminary survey was carried out by the Revenue field staff to size up the land requirement and associated implications. The survey brought to light that an additional 400 Kl (approximately) of land would be required to scale up the airstrip to the proposed dimensions. Furthermore, the survey flagged up the presence of approximately 40 structures and around 400 fruit-bearing and non-fruit-bearing trees that would fall within the acquisition zone.
In light of these facts and ground situation, Civil Aviation Department had deputed its authorized representatives to carry out the ground survey and demarcation exercise, which were conducted today.
“The visit by high-level team has paved the way for drawing up the requisite acquisition papers in line with the specifications laid down by the Airport Authority of India, thereby enabling the process to move forward in a structured and time-bound manner,” said DC Kishtwar Pankaj Sharma.
The expansion of Kishtwar airport is part of the Government of India’s efforts to enhance regional connectivity and provide affordable travel options to residents of far-flung areas under UDAN (Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik) scheme.
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