The Chhattisgarh Government is keen on expansion of the Korba Airport in this industrial city to enable generation of sizeable passenger traffic from the airport.

The airport needs extension for licensing for Class-2C operations in visual flight regime only (due to obstruction around airport area, officials stated.

Notably, Chhattisgarh is set to gain immensely from Centre’s recent proposed formulation of Regional Connectivity Scheme (“RCS ”) to promote regional air connectivity in Indian airports by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India (AAI).

Notably, the Chhattisgarh Government had been trying hard to get air connectivity for all its key cities besides getting international flights operated from Raipur at the earliest.

The Centre in its bid to develop 50 airports in the country has already included the industrial cities of  Bilaspur and Raigarh in its plans for  expanding aviation services in Chhattisgarh, officials stated.

It has been decided to formulate Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS) to promote Regional Air Connectivity in Indian airports by the Ministry of Civil Aviation and Airports Authority of India, officials stated.

The AAI will soon appoint a Consultant for the formulation of RCS scheme for Indian airports.

It is envisaged that the RCS shall take into account the existing state of air connectivity and other relevant factors so that regional connection is ensured/enhanced by the concerned stakeholders in the Civil Aviation Sector in pursuance of draft National Civil Aviation Policy 2015.

The RCS Formulation must detail the objectives and applicability of the Regional Connectivity Scheme in terms of: Nature of connectivity to be promoted .characteristics of routes, basis of classification of the broad range of possible routes,

Defining the policy objective of promoting connectivity for each of such broad categories of possible routes (economic development, social cohesion, etc.

The Chhattisgarh Government is trying hard to get air connectivity for all its key cities.

The Centre in its bid to develop 50 airports in the country has already included the industrial cities of  Bilaspur and Raigarh in its plans for  expanding aviation services in Chhattisgarh, officials stated.

In Bilaspur, the land acquisition process for establishing airport in Chakarbhata has already been completed, they stated.

Significantly, on July 24, 2013, the State Government had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU)  with Airports Authority of India to establish an airport at Raigarh.

During the last 14 years, civil aviation services in Chhattisgarh have skyrocketed. Earlier, there were hardly any flights landing in Raipur, but as the city began to develop as capital of the State and the economic-administrative activities expedited over here, several big players of the industry began to take interest in the State.

As the State Government realized the need to promote airways for travelling, Chief Minister Raman Singh decided to reduce the VAT rate on aviation fuel from 25 per cent to 5 per cent.

Along with Raipur Airport, Chief Minister Raman Singh is making strenuous efforts to start air services from cities like Jagdalpur, Bilaspur, and Raigarh as well, officials stated.

The State Government had also been requesting the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation to include Bilaspur in its plans to develop regional airports.

Bilaspur is a hub of not only industrial activity but also education and commercial activities. The NTPC, SECl, Railway Zone and Central University along with two other state universities are located in Bilaspur, officials stated.

Notably, Korba is nine districts of Chhattisgarh which have been identified for development under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) project.

The Centre has released the first installment of Rs 55.29 crore out of the approved Rs 573.40 crore for State Annual Action Plan (SAAP) under Atal Mission for Rejuvenation and Urban Transformation (AMRUT) project for the current financial year in Chhattisgarh.

Notably, the Union Ministry of Urban Development has released Central Assistance of Rs1,062.27 crore to 13 States as first installment under AMRUT project for the current financial year, officials stated.

This is a part of total Central Assistance of Rs5,311.38 crore committed to 13 States for which the Ministry has approved Atal Mission Action Plans for 2015-16 entailing total investment of Rs11,671.76 cr in 286 cities in these States.

The Ministry has so far cleared a total of 939 projects for 286 cities with most of them related to water supply and sewerage network services.

AMRUT project launched in June this year aims at ensuring water supply connections and sewer connections to all urban households in 500 mission cities besides supplying water at the norm of 135 litres per capita per day, on priority. Under this mission, construction of storm water drains, promotion of non-motorised urban transport, provision of parks and green spaces also will be supported.

Under the Mission, Central assistance is provided based on an objective criteria giving equal weightage to the total urban population and number of statutory urban bodies in each state. Total central assistance of Rs50,000 crore has been provisioned under the mission for 5 years. Central assistance is upto 50 per cent of project costs for cities with population of less than 10 lakhs each and up to one-third for cities with population above 10 lakhs each.

The purpose of AMRUT is to ensure that every household has access to a tap with assured supply of water and a sewerage connection, increase in amenity value of cities by developing greenery and well maintained open spaces (parks) and reduce pollution by switching to public transport or constructing facilities for non-motorized transport (like walking and cycling). 

Districts identified for AMRUT mission are-- Raipur, Bilaspur, Durg, Bhilai, Rajnan7 dgaon, Korba, Raigarh, Ambikapur and Jagdalpur, said officials sources.

As per a detailed note issued by the Union Urban Development Ministry, out of the 9 States under consideration, there is total convergence of housing, AMRUT and Smart City Missions in respect of Chhattisgarh (2 smart and 9 Amrut cities), Jammu & Kashmir (1 and 3), Kerala (1 and 7), MP (7 and 32), Odisha (2 and 9), Rajasthan (4 and 28), Telangana (2 and 11).

This in effect means, 25 of the 26 smart cities in these 9 states are also covered under AMRUT and Housing missions as well and 123 AMRUT cities under housing mission, it stated.

Only in case of Gujarat, there is a degree of deviation. One of the 6 smart city aspirants identified only Dahod does not figure in the 30 cities and towns so far identified for housing projects. 11 of 30 Amrut cities viz.,Bolad, Godhra,Goudal,Jamnagar, Junagadh,Nadiad, Morvi,Palanpur, Porbandar,Veravel and Surendranagar-Dudhrej are still to be included in the housing list.