Bokaro airport will be developed on the lines of Burnpur. Its leasing and other matters would be settled between the Ministry of Steel and Ministry of Aviation in New Delhi, informed Bokaro Deputy Commissioner Mrityunjay Kumar Baranwal.

The State Civil Aviation Director Captain SK Sinha accompanied by officials of Airports Authority of India (AAI), visited Bokaro to inspect the airport and decide how to execute its expansion on Wednesday. Sinha also held a discussion on several technical issues with AC Jugnu Minz, Bokaro Steel Plant’s General Managers Anup Kumar, Dy. Manager PK Sarthi and others.

“All technical issues have be resolved, it will take three to four months time to implement all the basic facilities like ticket counters, passenger lounge, control tower, security check, installation of baggage X-ray machine and transit parking to start the commercial flights from here”, added DC.

For the expansion and development of Bokaro airport, it is necessary to shift Dubdibag bazaar to some other place, it would be done after a talk with the traders, he said.

The city is scheduled to be connected from major regional airports from November 15, under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS). After getting the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) node only services of 42-seater passenger aircraft can only be started form Bokaro airstrip now, informed Sinha.

Earlier the air service was scheduled to start form 15 November last year and Zoom Airways was announced to start the service of a 50-seater passenger aircraft (ZO-710) from Kolkata to Bokaro but later it was postponed due to technical snag.

According to the Zoom airways officials, the airstrip at Bokaro has the capacity to take a load of 19,000 kgs, while a 50-seater passenger aircraft needs the airstrip with a load capacity of 24,040 kgs for landing and taking-off, so the present airstrip is not viable for the commercial flights.

“We are trying to launch flight services under the regional connectivity scheme from Bokaro and other cities of Jharkhand”, said Sinha.

In-a-bid to increase activities in small towns, boost industries and create jobs for the people, the Central Government launched Regional Air Connectivity Scheme. Under this scheme Ranchi, Bokaro, Jamshedpur, Palamu, Dumka, Daltonganj and other cities to be air-linked soon.