Itanagar, Mar 09: The Greenfield Airport at Hollongi near the capital city Itanagar is the first full-fledged airport of Arunachal Pradesh, is set to get operationalized on Independence Day this year, well ahead of its November 2022 date of completion.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu and Governor BD Mishra in a joint-inspection visit to the site and announced that preparations are in place to receive the first-ever passenger flight on August 15.
Both Governor and the CM took a detailed review of all aspects of the airport from representatives of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), PowerGrid Corporation of India (PGCIL), state government agencies like PWD, PHED, and Power, and all contractors involved in the project.
They have insisted that the airport has to be made operational by August 15, to which end each and every stakeholder has to plan and work accordingly.
To a question by the Governor ‘can you do it or not’ everybody said ‘yes’. Appreciating all involved in the project, Khandu said this must be the only greenfield airport in the country, work on which started from scrap and would be made operational in record time.
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“This in fact is a national project and you must all feel proud and privileged to be involved in it and on the way to creating history,” he said.
CM Pema Khandu reminded all of their commitment to finish all jobs required to make the airport operational and said, “I put my faith in you all that you will stand by your commitment no matter what.”
Meanwhile, the Governor offered to intervene wherever any bottleneck is beyond resolution by any stakeholder. He assured me he will use his good office and personally speak to any authority, private or government, to resolve any shortage or official clearance so that the deadline is met.
He also asked the local legislator Tana Hali, who was present in the review meeting, to coordinate with the deputy commissioner and resolve all local issues immediately. To the Chief Secretary and Secretary of Civil Aviation, Brig Mishra said that all requisite clearances have to be procured well in advance.
“Let us all put our heads and shoulders together to make this dream of 15th August 2022, come true,” he said.
The bulk water supply system to the airport is almost complete while the approach road would be complete by March-end, assured implementing agency PWD.
PGCIL assured that the portion of the 132 KV Power Grid line would be diverted before time as work is under progress at double the speed. Buildings for the medical unit, power, and fire stations are also almost complete. In short, all the works required to make the airport operations will be completed by mid-June.
Both Khandu and Mishra reminded all that they will be reviewing the progress on a day-to-day basis besides visiting personally whenever needed.
