The Union Civil Aviation Ministry is mulling over plans to introduce Air India flights between Ranchi and Raipur soon, according to official sources.
Notably, the national carrier has already launched flights on Bhopal-Raipur-Pune sector.
Notably, the Chairman and Managing Director (CMD) of Air India, Ashwani lohani had called on Chief Minister Raman Singh here on April 30 this year.
During the meeing, Raman had told lohani that the State is developing fast and many national-level institutions are operating in Raipur.
“The State has witnessed quantum growth in industrial activity which had resulted in phenomenal rise in the number of air travellers,” he had said.
The Chief Minister also assured that if Air India wants to develop a ‘principal hub’ for its small aircraft fleet traffic in Raipur, then the Chhattisgarh Government will extend all possible help.
Meanwhile, with a view to improving quality of service and amenities for passengers, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is planning to develop land parcels of approximately 80 acres around the new integrated terminal of Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur.
The AAI believes that development of the city side of the airport would make the region an ‘economic hub’ with exceptional connectivity, said the officials.
The city side development of the airport envisages setting up of hotels and convention centers with an ‘Airport Commercial District’ which would also include ‘Airport Business District’, and a host of world-class passenger convenience amenities among others.
On the other hand, the Naya Raipur Development Authority (NRDA) will design and develop an ‘integrated zone’ near the Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur.
NRDA’s Airport zone is spread over an area of 1,192.56 hectares and the proposed land use will be mainly for transportation purposes, officials stated.
Notably, Naya Raipur city had been divided into six zones for which zoning plans are being prepared under Naya Raipur land Use Plan-2031.
The NRDA Planning Area consists of three layers mainly- Planning layer-I consisting of Naya Raipur city including the green belt area in 9,522 hectares.