The people of Chhattisgarh may probably soon get the chance of travelling in an Air Taxi from Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur.
The Airport authorities are in talks with an Air taxi operator named ‘Supreme Aviation’ for providing a nine-seater Air Taxi service .
“We are willing to begin one Air Taxi service from Raipur covering Gwalior, Bhopal, Indore, Jabalpur and Khajuraho. As of now, the proposal is awaiting the response of Civil Aviation Ministry. The concerned operator had sent a request to the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA),” Swami Vivekananda Airport Director Santosh Dhoke told The Pioneer on Friday.
“A counter within the airport premises will be provided for the Non-Scheduled Service. It will basically promote the aerial site seeing of the prominent locations near Raipur,” added the Director.
Notably, Swami Vivekananda Airport was felicitated the National Tourism Awards 2013-14 in the Airports category recently.
The President of India, Pranab Mukherjee presented the National Tourism Awards 2013-14 at a function held at Vigyan Bhavan in New Delhi on September 18.
It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh government is also 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.
Meanwhile, the AAI had already proposed substantial extension of the runway alongwith expansion of the Apron at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur, sources stated.
There had already been a demand from various operators to extend the runway by another 900 ft first and subsequently to 11000 ft.
The expansion of the Apron would facilitate parking of atleast three additional aircraft, officials stated
It may be recalled that the Chhattisgarh government has provisioned Rs 50 crore in its State Budget 2015-16 for extension of the runway of the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur to bring it at par with international standards.
The AAI has also proposed for providing elaborate drainage and Rain Water Harvesting System on both sides of the runway of Swami Vivekananda Airport here beyond 150 metres from the centre line of runway, officials stated. The move is to preserve precious rain water resources, they stated. AAI is also going for drastic cuts to be made in its energy consumption costs on its airport operations with a plan to replace the existing halogen type runway and taxiway light fittings with lED fittings at the Swami Vivekanand Airport in Raipur, officials stated.