Land problems ground Dimapur airport

August 31, 2021 517 Views No Comment

Staff Reporter DIMAPUR, AUG 31 (NPN) : While other airports in the region, some of which came into existence decades after Dimapur, have undergone massive improvements, Nagaland’s only airport is languishing due to poor response from the state government.

It may be mentioned that union civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya M Scindia has written to chief ministers of several states including Nagaland seeking attention for improvement of air services.

Scindia drew attention of the Nagaland chief minister on factors that were impacting implementation of various projects pertaining to aviation sector in the State. It was mentioned that107 acres of land was required for extension of runway by 310 m.

And, in Phase-2, 230 acres of land was required for city side development, extension of runway by 600 m and runway strip clearance for operations of AB-320 type of aircraft along with hangars, Runway End Safety Area (RESA) and isolation bay.

In a startling revelation, it was learnt that the government of Nagaland has been sitting over several letters and reminders since 2008 sent from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) Delhi and Regional Headquarters, requesting land required for modernization and improvement of the airport and runway.

According to director AAI Dimapur Mughavi Zhimo, besides letters sent to the state government since 2008, the AAI had also held a series of meetings which were recorded and also conducted surveys at Dimapur for development of the airport.

For whatever reasons unknown, the government of Nagaland has been doing precious little to the point of indicating its lack of interest for improvement of Dimapur airport despite the letters sent by AAI since 2008 or meetings with state officials and surveys conducted on the airport.

Even as recent as February 14, 2020 Zhimo disclosed that the executive director AAI held a meeting with the Governor of Nagaland after which the master plan for Dimapur airport was finalized under two phases. For Phase-I land required was 107 acres for extension of the runway and while for development under Phase-II , land required was 230 acres.

Subsequently, he said a detailed survey was conducted in June 2021 where land required was assessed by the District Land Record and Survey Officer (DLSRO). Zhimo said as per this latest survey for the master plan Phase –I land required was 135.3 acres. The areas surveyed for Phase-I included 90.2 acres from the state government, 18.8 acres from Assam Rifles, 8.4 acres from CRPF and 17.9 acres approach towards Chathe/Diphu river (presently under litigation).

Zhimo said the development of Dimapur airport includes vastly improving services for passengers and terminal facilities which would go a long way towards making it a prominent and growing airport for passengers from within Nagaland and nearby districts of Assam.

On whether realignment of the runway was possible, Zhimo said the task involved huge technical back up and expenditure.

Zhimo said unless Dimapur airport was developed with new terminal in line with other airports all over the country, it could be reduced a subsidiary airport and lose its potential.

On the operation of Dimapur airport, Zhimo said that volume of passengers at Dimapur airport has been growing fast .

He said there has been heavy increase in number of passengers at Dimapur airport during the past few years. Zhimo said such developments in other states would have translated into having daily flights. However, the covid-19 pandemic has severely affected travel as the volume has come down 60-70 % compared to the pre-lockdown.

Zhimo also said cargo services from Dimapur airport and has been showing promise and benefitting farmers of Nagaland.

Several renovations and upgradations were carried out at Dimapur airport, such as air conditioning of the entire terminal and the introduction of Common User Terminal system and reconstruction of toilets in the terminal building, Zhimo added.

In addition, Zhimo also mentioned that Dimapur airport has also been identified as one of the airport to be used in case of contingency by Indian Air force. For this, he said every year in the month of October-November air exercises are being carried out in Dimapur airport. The exercises have been carried out for the past two years and likely to also take place this year.

Source: http://www.nagalandpost.com/land-problems-ground-dimapur-airport/239345.html