Chhattisgarh hastens airport projects

In order to fast track the Bilaspur Airport project in Chhattisgarh, Airport Authority of India (AAI) has agreed to the proposal to build modern airport for which the Army has also requested AAI to hand over Bilaspur Airport for joint operational purposes subject to the condition of retaining 53 acres of land area for development of a Civil Enclave at the Airport. In addition, the Jagdalpur and Ambikapur airstrips, which belong to the state government, AAI carried out a pre-feasibility study at Jagdalpur Airport and found the airport suitable for usage of 2C aircraft in Visual Flight Rules (VFR) conditions. The state government has decided to develop Jagdalpur Airport and has submitted the blueprint to AAI, which has been approved by AAI and communicated to the state. The airport authority has prepared the Master Plan of the Airport and forwarded it to the state agencies for allotment of requisite land and funds. The old terminal building at Raipur Airport has been converted into cargo terminal and has been made operational, said Minister of State in the Ministry of Civil aviation, Jayant Sinha.