TURA, 19 Nov: with the land acquisition for the extension and upgradation of the Baljek Airport around thirty kilometers from Tura completed the dream of Garo Hills’ own fully functional airport and the state’s second has come a step closer to fruition. The next phase is the grant of license by the Director General of Civil Aviation and finalization of personnel and manpower for security of the airport which has already been sent to the Airport Authority of India and the Bureau of Civil Aviation.
Informing this on Monday while handing over cheques to land owners affected by the land acquisition for the upgradation of Baljek Airport, West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Pravin Bakshi stated that a total of fifty eight Acres of required land had been acquired for the purpose.
Cheques amounting to Rs 2,58,60,688 were handed to forty one affected landowners of Bawegre, Chiokgre and Bolbokgre villages of Baljek area adjoining the airport complex.
Bakshi informed that he had attended a meeting with the Airport Authority of India and the Bureau of Civil Aviation at Janpath Bhawan, New Delhi, on 5th July last to finalize manpower for airport security at Baljek. The required manpower was assessed and further scrutinized as per requirements and pre requisites of deployment at the airport. It was decided that the state government would raise or utilize a special company of police for the security and barricading of the airport building and terminal as well as frisking at the airport. Amongst other requirements brought forth during the meeting were the lack of permanent barracks for security personnel, cargo area, isolation bay or watch tower,fire station and dedicated transport service for security personnel (APSU/ state police) informed Bakshi.
Prior to the high level meeting an extensive survey was conducted of the airport on 5th and 6th June last wherein it was observed that there was an immediate need to raise the perimeter wall, segregation of departures and arrivals, operationalization of Air Traffic Control and perimeter lighting amongst other deficiencies.
Once operational Baljek Airport will enable feasible air travel to Kolkatta, Guwahati, Shillong and Bagdora as well as facilitate the transportation of horticulture produce of which the region is particularly renowned of. (SP News)
