Hit the air pocket: Gaya airport

Gaya, Oct. 11: Almost a decade has passed since the Gaya airport resumed operations but its potential to operate more international and domestic flights is yet to be tapped.

Although a master plan has been prepared to upgrade the only international airport of Bihar and Jharkhand to international standards, delay in land acquisition poses the main hurdle to execute the master plan. Regarding the master plan, Gaya airport director Samar Kumar Biswas told The Telegraph that the existing runway of the airport has to be extended from 7,500ft to 9,000ft after which big aircraft like Airbus 321 could be operated.

At present, aircraft like Airbus 319 and Airbus 320 are being operated. The capacity of Airbus 321 happens to be more than 200, while the Airbus 319 and Airbus 320 aircraft each can seat around 170 passengers. Moreover, jumbo aircraft could also be operated with ease. At present, jumbo aircraft can be operated with certain load restrictions, Biswas added.

Apart from runway extension, the instrument landing system (ILS) also needs to be installed towards the eastern side of the airport. In ILS, lights are installed in vertical line to the runway so that the pilot is able to ascertain the exact location of the runway. Besides, a big air traffic control (ATC) tower in place of the existing small one and the technical block building also need to be constructed.

However, the proposal for extension of the runway towards the western end of the airport has been delayed for more than five years owing to delay in land acquisition. For extending the runway towards the western end, around 73 acres is required, while around 27 acres would help the installation of the ILS towards the eastern end.

As soon as the district administration hands over the land to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), a proposal with estimated cost of the work will be sent for approval to the AAI headquarters so that the work for runway extension begins at the earliest, Biswas said.

When contacted, the district land acquisition officer, Prabhat Kumar Jha, told The Telegraph that 28.81 acres of land, including 5.52 acres at Hariyo village, 7.8 acres at Charova village and 15.59 acres at Dubhal village have already been acquired and compensation provided to the owners.

Hariyo and Dubhal villages are towards the eastern end of the airport.

However, acquisition of 60.14 acres at Bishunganj village towards the western end of the airport, where the runway is to be extended, poses the main hurdle.

Residents of Bishunganj are demanding higher rates for their plots than those fixed by the government, Jha said.