NATIONAL NEWS
Recently, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the State Government of Chhattisgarh for development of Raigarh Airport at the estimated cost of 280 crore. The MoU was signed in presence of Raman Singh,
Chhattisgarh to get second airport at Raigarh
the function was chaired the Chief Minister, Chhattisgarh. VP Agrawal, Chairman, AAI and Subodh Kumar Singh, Secretary Aviation, Government of Chhattisgarh signed the MoU. Also present at the function were Sunil Kumar Chief Secretary, DS Mishra, Addl Chief Secretary (Finance), N. Baijendra Kumar Principal Secretary and Chairman NRDA, and senior officials of the State Government and Airports Authority of India.
Raigarh Airport will be the second airport for domestic flights in the state. State Government has provided 592 acres of land to AAI for Construction of the airport. Addressing the gathering, Agrawal commended the Chhattisgarh Government for reducing the tax on ATF from 25 to 5 per cent; as a result of which the number of domestic flight operations and passenger movement have increased significantly.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister declared that the tax on ATF will be further reduced from 5 per cent to 1 per cent on commencement of International flights from Swami Vivekananda Airport, Raipur.
Agrawal declared that the Construction of Airport at Raigarh will begin immediately on receipt of the land. The Airport will be developed in two phases. In the 1st phase the airport will be developed as suitable for the operation of Q- 4 type of aircraft having runway length of 1,870 meters with width of 45 metres. The 2nd phase of the airport will be developed for operation of A-321 type of aircraft.
On this occasion, the Chief Minister handed over the possession of 350 acres of land to Chairman AAI for further development and up gradation of Swami Vivekananda Airport as an International Airport.