Plans afoot to give thrust to air services in UP: Nandi
Boeing 737 lands at Kushinagar int’l airport
Air service from Kushinagar international airport is likely to start soon. The landing of Indian Air Force Boeing 737 aircraft at the airport on Monday gave impetus to the speculation of the inauguration of the airport. Boeing 737 aircraft is used by VVIPs, including President, Vice-President and PM. Uttar Pradesh civil aviation minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ said all works at the Kushinagar airport, including terminal building, apron that can accommodate big aircraft for loading or unloading of the passengers as well as cargo, parking or maintenance work, had been completed.
“The installation of the equipment is continuing at air traffic control tower. We have installed mobile equipment to manage the movement of the aircraft. The construction of fire control building, powerhouse and pump house has also been completed,” he said.
“Due to the pandemic, the start of air service from the international airport has been delayed. The inauguration programme was also postponed. After the second wave of the Covid, international flights were also restricted,” the minister said.
“With the decline in the Covid
cases, we are planning to give thrust to the air services in Uttar Pradesh by starting the newly constructed airports, including Kushinagar international airport, Shravasti, Chitrakoot, Sonbhadra, Aligarh, Azamgarh, Jhansi and Moradabad airports,” he added.
“The acquisition of 1,350-hectare land for NOIDA International Greenfield Airport, Jewar, is continuing at full pace. We have completed 99% of land acquisition work. The land will be handed over to the Yamuna International Airport Private Limited (YIAPIL), the body established by the UP government to oversee the development of the airport by Zurich Airport International,” Nandi said. “The capacity of Prayagraj, Gorakhpur and Bareilly airports is being increased to facilitate movement of the people across the country and give a thrust to domestic flights. It will also add to the revenue of the state government,” he added.
Director, Kushinagar international airport, Anil Kumar Diwedi said the landing of the Air Force special Boeing aircraft at the airport was successful. “The landing capacity of the runway, landing and take-off management, visibility and other facilities were checked. The aircraft left after around 20 minutes,” he added.
Chief minister Yogi Adityanath along with union civil aviation minister, Hardeep Singh Puri and UP civil aviation minister Nand Gopal Gupta ‘Nandi’ had inspected the ongoing work on the Kushinagar International airport in September last.
“The start of the air service from Kushinagar international airport will give momentum to tourism, development and employment in eastern Uttar Pradesh,” Yogi had said.
“Kushinagar international airport is coming up on 589.35-acre land. The estimated cost of the project is Rs 199.4183 crore,” a state government official said.