Grant for Vellore airport infrastructure may be enhanced
Two weeks after the Vellore airport was selected under the phase II of UDAN scheme, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) officials have indicated that the facility here might be sanctioned a sum of at least Rs 30 crore for the runway expansion and provision of additional infrastructure.
By : migrator
Update: 2018-02-06 21:04 GMT
Vellore
While the Civil Aviation ministry initially earmarked Rs 10 crore for developing facilities required to handle a 9-seater aircraft, the plan was later upgraded. Officials were asked to ensure that facilities were available to enable the airport to operate a 20-seater aircraft.
“To meet the cost of the enhanced capacity and develop facilities accordingly, we anticipate a financial sanction of Rs 30 crore from the central government,” a top AAI official told DT Next.
Meanwhile, work on the obstacle survey is expected to start within a week by a two-member team, which will come from Chennai. The official explained that a nearby flyover on the Chennai-Bangalore national highway and a road near the facility, which has good traffic flow, needs to be cleared.
“The two stretches need to be removed for smooth landing and take-off,” he said and added that the task of removing the flyover and the road might be difficult as objections have been raised by several sections.
“The survey team will only be able to give a clarity on the issue as they know the technical parameters,” AAI Regional Executive Director P Sreekumar said. “The survey results will be known within 45 days,” he said.
Union minister for civil aviation Ashok Gajapati Raju, on January 25, announced that private operator, Turbo Aviation has been given permission to operate flights on the Vellore - Chennai and Vellore- Bangalore routes.
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