Bokaro: As Deoghar Airport prepares to begin commercial flight operations, Bokaro airport has yet to come on the air connectivity map of the country due to delays in expansion activities and obtaining a license. The expansion project, which started over four years ago, is delayed.
A review meeting was held between DC, Bokaro, Kuldeep Chaudhary, Director of Ranchi Airport, K L Agrawal and Head of Aviation, Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL) Lakshmi Das to expedite activities. Priyanka Sharma, Bokaro Airport official, and BSL Samrendra Jha were also present.
It is worth mentioning that the foundation stone of Deoghar airport was laid on May 25, 2018. In fact, there was only a three-month difference between the foundation stone ceremonies at Deoghar and Bokaro Airport. On August 25, 2018, the foundation stone was laid for the expansion and development of Bokaro airport under the UDAAN regional connectivity scheme.
However, Deoghar Airport was constructed in four years, beginning with 2,500 metre runway, an apron for two Airbus A320, taxiways, and an isolation bay, followed by a terminal of 4,000 square metres (43,000 square feet) with a capacity for 200 passengers per hour. Now that the license has been obtained from the DGCA, the flight services can begin. IndiGo will commence Kolkata-Deoghar flight service from Deoghar on July 12, said sources.
IndiGo’s flights in the Kolkata-Deoghar route will operate four times a week – Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday and Sunday. The new Deoghar airport can handle narrow-body aircraft such as A321 and B737.
In comparison to Deoghar, the BSL-owned-Bokaro Airport is much behind in terms of operation. Currently, fire stations, runways, terminals, and others have been constructed. Trees and encroachment have yet to be removed. BSL, which owns the airport, had applied for an aerodrome license from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). The team of DGCA is yet to visit Airport and give their observations.
Currently, 1772 trees need to be removed. According to officials, the DGCA team might object to it, so it would be best if trees are removed before their visit. When these trees were identified for transplanting three years ago, their diameters were less than 7 inches, but now they have grown into big trees, for which AAI is asking the forest department to remove them.
There has been a huge reaction among residents as a result of the delay in flight operations. A lot of people are blaming the government for the delays in work and the airport’s opening. “I don’t know whether the flight will take off or not. The deadlines for starting flight operations have failed several times. It seems like eyewash, “said Manoj Kumar, a resident of Bokaro.
Decision for expansion of Bokaro Airport taken in 2016
Bokaro airport is owned and maintained by Bokaro Steel Plant (BSL), a unit of Steel Authourity of India Limited (SAIL). The move for expansion of Bokaro airport has been taken following announcement of central government to develop airports under Regional Connectivity Scheme in 2016. Then state Government had then signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Central Government in this regard. The airport is developed under phase-II of Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS)-Udaan.
BJP government develops 7 airport annually, Bokaro is one of them
Former minister of state for Civil Aviation, Jayant Sinha had said during foundation ceremony that “in comparison to past government (UPA) which used to develop one airport in a year, our government is developing seven airports annually. Bokaro is the 31 airport which is being developed to make domestic flight gets operational here. By the time, Bokaro airport will function, four more airports will get operational in country. In Jharkhand, after Jamshedpur, Bokaro, Deoghar and Dumka is being developed under the scheme”.
Bokaro airport will benefit residents of Dhanbad and Giridih
Former chief minister Raghubar Das said during foundation ceremony that “Strengthening air connectivity is necessary for economic development of state. RCS is launched in 2016 and is the ambitious project of prime minister, Narendera Modi. Development of airport in Bokaro, will also be in benefit of the residents of Dhanbad and Giridih,”
It shows the failure of ease of doing business in India..
if something happens BJP takes the credit if it doesn’t failure is other’s
It’s total fault of bjp leader or any other parties leader. They are not taking interest because they think tht they will lose vote bank. At least bthey should understand the meaning of progress. Bokaro is not developing because of lower mind set.
BJP is making fool to the people of Bokaro. And Bokaro Airport has become an political agenda for BJP. BJP has no interest in the development of Bokaro City