Chief Minister Raman Singh’s week-long visit to China beginning Wednesday could also pave the way for direct flights to key Chinese cities from Raipur in future.
Singh will also visit the Special Airport Economic Zone at Zhengzhou in China during his tour, officials stated.
Notably, State Minister for Urban Administration and Development Amar Agrawal in January this year had proposed the idea of direct flights to China from Raipur during his meeting with Consul General of People’s Republic of China MA Zhanwu.
The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has already commenced work for getting an international tag for Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur.
AAI is taking up runway extension work as well as expansion of Apron suitable for 'C type' category of Aircraft at the Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur.
There are also plans to carry out resurfacing of the existing runway at the Airport, officials stated.
The current runway length is 2286 meters and would be extended by another 965 meters, Swami Vivekananda Airport Director Santosh Dhoke told The Pioneer in November last year.
Detailed estimates for taking up the extension work is under preparation for tender action, he had stated , adding, the entire tendering process would take place during the next two to three months and it would take another one or two months to award the work for execution of the project.
AAI has also decided to further expand passenger amenities at the integrated terminal of Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur.
Notably, there had been a quantum jump in the number of passenger arrivals at the Swami Vivekanand Airport during the past two years, official stated.
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, 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.
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.
Notably, 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.
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.