Facing heavy criticism from different corners after the Deoghar airport was inaugurated by PM Narendra Modi, the Dhanbad MP has demanded air connectivity for the coal capital too. MP PN Singh today met civil aviation minister Jyotiraditya Scindia at New Delhi and placed the demand for the same .
The issue has been raised in Lok Sabha too by Singh citing need of air connectivity in view of the important union government offices in using headquarters of CMPF and DGMS besides IIT-ISM , divisional headquarters of railways and BCCL besides several state government offices.
The minister has given a positive response, claimed Singh in a statement released here . Singh said it's need of hour that the facility may be provided as soon as possible for people as it may help residents of neighbouring district's too.
It's worth mentioning that Dhanbad decades ago, in the mid 1980s had air connectivity with Kolkata, Ranchi and Patna. Then the Vayu doot service was operational and the aircrafts of small size used to land at Barwaadda air strip .
However, with passage of time the services were withdrawn though the strip still is used for landing of choppers and small chartered planes .
When Sajal Chakravarty was civil aviation secretary, he had conducted survey of Balipur air strip owned by Sindri Fertilizer factory but for reasons best known to government the proposal was shelved and the union government started developing Bokaro airport for domestic service,though the services are still to be made operational.