Even after two decades, the fate of Rs48 crore Naini-Saini airstrip project in Pithoragarh continues to hang in balance. Given its past record, this project is unlikely to see light of the day even this season as expected earlier, though the officials concerned have claimed that construction works are going on in full swing now to have it completed at the earliest.
Earlier, it was said that the airstrip had to be ready by March 2015. But the deadline kept on extending. It was rescheduled to April 30 and again to May 15 at the behest of Uttarakhand Infrastructure Development Corporation (UIDC), Pithoragarh, which is constructing this project.
A toehold on this strategically important northern front in Pithoragarh, to match China’s audacious infrastructural development initiatives along the Himalayan border can hardly be over-emphasised. The fact is that India still has to approach the upper Himalayan border with Tibet/China through narrow by-foot lanes due to poor road connectivity in Pithoragarh.
More so, there is presently no airstrip in the Kumaon division except the Pantnagar airport in Udham Singh Nagar. So, the completion of the airstrip in Pithoragarh is vital for both strategic and transport reasons. Apart from its strategic and transportation importance, Naini-Saini airbase may also come in handy to deal with natural disaster befalling Pithoragarh region which is considered one of the extremely vulnerable parts of the Himalayan State from natural disaster point of view.
More importantly, better air connectivity may also boost Uttarakhand’s tourism industry in the border district of Pithoragarh, maintained the people associated with the tourism industry here. However, the officials concerned of the UIDC maintained that notices are being served to the contractor to complete the construction works of this airstrip on time. As per the agreement, the construction works were to be completed by the contractor by April 30, said the officials concerned of the UIDC.
But given the unsatisfactory state of things, the deadline was extended to May 15, added the officials. Meanwhile, the district administration Pithoragarh has asked the UIDC officials to take necessary actions against the contractor in case it fails to complete the air strip construction works by the latest deadline fixed.