Authorities expedite Sonbhadra airport project in UP

Air connectivity in UP has received a big booster with the Centre and the state government joining hands to expedite construction of an airport in Sonbhadra under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS). The state government has also decided to upgrade Bareilly and Chitrakoot airstrips by making provision of higher power load for them. The plan to develop Myorpur (Sonbhadra) airport comes after the Union ministry of environment gave in-principle approval to the conversion of land use of over 0.6 hectare of forest land for construction of a terminal building near Myorpur. The terminal is proposed to be built close to the existing airstrip which is 1.4 metre long and 25 metre wide and is currently used for small aircraft. The new route that is being planned is Lucknow-Myorpur-Chitrakoot-Myorpur-Lucknow and the airport is proposed to have an apron area, a lounge and a boundary wall. The department would also ensure that funds meant for the airport are not sanctioned under any other scheme and the amount would be used as per requirement and it would not be kept under the public ledger account (PLA) of any bank account. The director of the civil aviation department would be required to submit a fund utilization certificate to the state government.