Closure threat to airport: State asks AAI to share safety audit report

09/08/2010

Patna,(BiharTimes): The Nitish government on Thursday asked the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to share the safety audit report of the Directorate General of Civil Aviation.

The letter followed safety audit, which declared Jai Prakash Narayan International Airport at Patna among the 10 most critical aerodromes of the country and may even be shut down if alternative land is not provided by the Bihar government.

The state government’s civil aviation department has asked the Airport Authority of India (AAI) to specify the runway length to keep the existing airport operational. It has also asked the specific details about the obstructions that need to be removed on both sides of the runway.

Principal Secretary, Cabinet, Afzal Amanullah, who is also in charge of the civil aviation department, said that the state government could look at expanding the existing runway only if it knew what the AAI requirements were.

“We have asked the AAI to share the DGCA report with us because it is a matter of concern and we are not willing to compromise on air safety and security,” he was quoted in Hindustan Times as saying.

The AAI had earlier suggested long-term and short-term measures. The long-term measure had outlined to look for an alternative to the existing airport either at Bihta or Nalanda while the short term measure talked of upgrading the airport by allotting 45 acres of the animal husbandry department land and eight acres of Special Task Force land on either flanks of the airstrip to the AAI.

In every threat lies an opportunity. Given the very small ariport infrastrucutre at Patna and the fact that Patna was the fastest growing airport in India with a 60% growth, state govt should ask for a proper international airport at Patna where even a A 380 can land.

During my annual Kanwar trip to Patna, I found four passenger jets of the size of 737 / A320 at the apron. The waiting hall was completely full. Happily, the Mumbai - Patna Mumbai fare, which used to be higher than Mumbai - London - Mumbai fare till a couple of years back, was an affordable Rs 7,000

Airport is a huge employment generator. With a growing population of Bihar working outside and getting prosperous, as also the increased economic activities in Bihar, a large International airport is an absolute must. Just as mobile phone was considered a luxury till just about five years back and is now a necessity which gives a massive boost to economic growth, so is the position of air travel whose growth is waiting to be tapped. There is no reason why the migrant from Saran going to Dubai should be wasting his money travelling to Delhi and not take a direct flight to Dubai from Patna itself. There is increased economic activity between Bihar and Thailand too where one can see many Bhojpuri speaking people in Bangkok selling mosquito nets and other similar stuff. The ancient Buddhist connection can only aid trade and travel.

It should be borne in mind that Bihar is a landlocked state which cant have a sea port. So everyone, State Govt and Central Govt should put their heads together and build a massive airport which is good for 21st century. Surely when one lakh crore can be splurged on Delhi for Commonwealth Games and comparatively smaller states like Karnataka and AP can have large airports, a state with roughly 10% of India's population shold also get an airport which is at least as big as Hyderabad, if not bigger. This is a sure way to give a boost to the economy of Bihar. It will have a salutary effect on tourism as well as air freight of speciality products like Mango and Litchi.

The real questions are :

a. Is Bihar government ambitious enough?
b. Is Centre capable of treating Bihar at par with other states?

We, the civil society of Bihar should put all pressure to have this infrastructure created.