Birsa Munda Airport in Ranchi. Picture by Manik Bose

Ranchi, Sept. 29: The army has stepped in to ensure the much-awaited expansion plans of the capital’s airport aren’t grounded because of scarcity of land.

At a recent high-level meeting with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and state government officials, the army said its land on the eastern side of the Birsa Munda Airport — now being used by its helicopters to land and take-off — could be used to extend the airport.

“The helicopter bay of the army would be relocated and the land would be used for the expansion of the airport,” said a delighted Birsa Munda Airport director A.V. Krishna.

The AAI, he said, would soon begin work on the new airport, which would include a portion of the present airport area in addition to the army land.

“We want to make the new airport operational by 2010,” he added.

The army chopper bay dates back to World War II and will now have to be relocated to make way for the Ranchi airport.

“As land availability for the airport’s expansion is still an issue, we have decided to use the available land with the army,” said Krishna who attended the high-level meeting where the decision was taken.

Apart from army officials, the meeting was also attended by chief secretary A.K. Basu, AAI regional director P.K Singhal, urban development secretary Shailesh Kumar Singh and revenue secretary R.S. Poddar.

Birsa Munda Airport now spans 1,568 acres. It requires another 500 acres for the construction of a new terminal. And the army has helped out with 400 acres of its own.

“But the army’s land would meet Birsa Munda Airport’s requirement partially. The state government has promised to look for rest of the land required,” Krishna added.

The new airport will have its terminal near the Birsa Munda Airport’s eastern gate. It would have a capacity of 1,000 passengers against the present capacity of only 250.

With national and inter- national investors queuing up to invest in the state, there was an urgent need for a bigger airport with world-class facilities.

As of now, large aircraft cannot land at Birsa Munda Airport as around 800 feet of the 9,000-feet runway has been rendered unusable due to nearby high-rises.