A high-level team, headed by chairman of state finance commission R.K. Srivastava, will inspect the abandoned World War-II airstrip at Dalbhumgarh in Ghatshila subdivision of East Singhbhum, 58km from Jamshedpur, on Tuesday to explore possibilities of converting it into an airport.

The other members of the team are transport and civil aviation principal secretary K.K. Khandelwal, director of Birsa Munda Airport Anil Vikram and director (operations), civil aviation department, S.P. Sinha.

Sinha said the government, in partnership with Tata Steel, was interested in building an airport in Dalbhumgarh, which already has two runways that were abandoned after World War II. "We will visit Dalbhumgarh and assess the ground situation. A feasibility study will be carried out later and submitted to the chief minister," Sinha said over phone from Ranchi.

The operations director of civil aviation department underscored that an airport would improve air connectivity of the region. "Jamshedpur is an important industrial town, but it lacks air connectivity. There is an urgent need for a full-fledged airport. We will try and explore possibilities of setting up an international airport in Dalbhumgarh," Sinha added.

Incidentally, Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahto has long been pushing for an airport in Dalbhumgarh. The parliamentarian had taken up the issue with the Union civil aviation ministry and other stakeholders.

The Dalbhumgarh airstrip sprawls over five mouzas - Rouizal, Kokpara, Charchakla, Burudih and Debasol. It was constructed by the British during World War II. Although the runway has developed minor cracks, it is still firm, say experts. However, since the airstrip has not been used for decades, shrubs have sprung up on the runway.