Swami Vivekananda Airport only 'licensed' in State for public use

The Swami Vivekananda Airport in Raipur is the only one in Chhattisgarh licensed among 66 others in the country falling under the ‘public use category’ as on May 27, 2014 according to a list of ‘licensed’ airports mentioned by Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA).The Chhattisgarh Government is 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.