NAGPUR: The 3,200-metre runway of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport will finally get a much-awaited resurfacing soon. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has given a nod to equally share the cost of runway resurfacing work with Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC).
On Thursday, after taking stock of development works and inspecting the newly-installed Indra-ATC automation system at the city airport, AAI chairman V P Agrawal announced that AAI will share the amount of Rs 25 crore jointly with MADC and will ensure that the runway is resurfaced soon.
Agrawal admitted that due to the increase in air traffic at the city airport, the existing runway requires resurfacing immediately. However, as the city airport, managed by the joint venture company Mihan India Limited (MIL), is suffering heavy losses, getting funds had become a difficult task. Estimates for the work was prepared well in time and the only thing lacking was funds, that was preventing floating of tender and allotment of work order. However, now the problem has been resolved and the runway will soon get a new surface, he said.
The runway was last resurfaced in 2004. Before that, the then operator Airports Authority of India (AAI) had resurfaced it in 1995. TOI has been highlighting MIL's negligence towards the bad condition of the runway. The 350 to 400 metre patch of the runway, where aircraft land or brake hard, had been completely damaged and poses a potential threat to aircrafts.
Agrawal also clarified that AAI has no plan to take back the Nagpur Airport from MADC for its operations and maintenance. The airport will remain with the joint venture company MIL, where MADC has a 51% stake and AAI has the remaining 49%.
As per the MOU signed, which has five-year tenure, MIL has assured to develop airport and absorb the entire AAI staff except CNS/ATM (communications, navigation and surveillance systems for air traffic management) employees and also pay their salaries. However, MIL has failed to develop it and neither has it paid salaries to employees. The pending salary amount has reached Rs 30 crore due to lack of funds. "Based on such facts, AAI has only proposed to exchange the share of 51 % in MIL with MADC. The proposal is pending with the Maharashtra government for final decision," he added.
The AAI chairman appreciated Nagpur airport for emerging as the first in the country to have completed Indra-ATC automation system. He said that apart from increasing the efficiency and reducing chances of accidents, the new system would ensure complete radar coverage. Aircraft would be in continuous contact with air traffic controllers while transiting and the new system will help aircraft reach economic flight level, thereby drastically reducing fuel consumption.
Gondia airport ready to take off
Gondia: The Birsi Airport at Gondia is now ready to have a regular air service apart from having ongoing training operations. AAI chairman V P Agrawal said that AAI has already expanded the runway of Gondia airport to 9,000 feet to handle the operations of aircraft like Airbus-320 and Boeing 737. A state-of-the-art passenger terminal building along with ATC tower and fire station is also ready. "Airlines operating smaller aircraft have yet not approached AAI for operations, but can start intrastate services from here," Agrawal said.
Meanwhile, AAI has constructed two toilet blocks at Birsi village having population of around 2,000, near the airport spending Rs 24.20 lakh. Each block has five Indian style water closet, one European style closet and four bath rooms and a waiting room.
Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com
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