Raipur, Chhattisgarh - India: Government speeds up process to connect Bastar by air

RAIPUR: Chhattisgarh government has decided to connect the Naxal-affected Bastar region with air taxi services, state officials said today.

Presently, there is an airstrip in Bastar, which is used only for VIP visits to the region.

According to the officials, the state government had started taking steps in this regard around four years back. However, the Centre had turned down the proposal, citing the reason of inadequate security at the existing six airports in the state, they said.

Officials said that now, Chhattisgarh government has speeded up the process to put in place all the facilities at the airports in the state.

Collector of Bastar P Anbalagan said, "Since Bastar is a very sensitive region, the airport here should have all the necessary facilities. At present, there is no night landing or take-off facility. Therefore, we have requested the state government to make it available at Jagdalpur airport."

He added that there is a need to create hangars for the helicopters.

State Aviation Secretary R S Vishwakarma said that Rs 10 crore have been sanctioned to create an airstrip in the Naxal-affected Dantewada region as well.

The state government is also planning to hand over the Jagdalpur airport to the National Airports Authority, he said.

There are also proposals to extend the runway at Jagdalpur airport and also set up an ATC there. Vishwakarma, along with the Director of Aviation Subodh Singh, controller of Mana airport in Raipur Anil Roy and four other officials took a stock of things in this regard, sources said.

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