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Rourkela:24/4/18; The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and the Airports Authority of India today inked an MOU thereby paving the way for steel city’s air connectivity.
The MoU will cover three steel cities of SAIL Rourkela, Bokaro and Burnpur belonging to states of Odisha, Jharkhand and West Bengal, respectively. Soon they will prominently feature on the aviation map of India. The three places have been put under the regional connectivity scheme (RCS) –UDAN,a flagship project of Government of India.
Many are elated over the signing of air connectivity MOU.
President of Rourkela Chambers of Commerce and Industries, (RCCI) K Poddar said, “we were waiting for it as this will be helpful for all and the business in particular. And on behalf of my organisation I wish luck to the project and hope that this time it will turn out to be true.” Similarly, the NIT Rourkela there is also a sense of happiness over the news. The official releases said, “it is a matter of delight and a heartening moment for NIT Rourkela.” Earlier, many acclaimed academicians were declining to visit the institute because of lack of air connectivity now that will not be a problem and the standard of placement will go up a few notch with this. The sentiment was echoed by SK Biswal, a faculty in a local management college, as he said, “this will give us access to quality teachers and trainers coming in as well as will help us in placement further.” But, everybody talked on one particular aspect that is timing. As Poddar said, “they must see the timing is perfect for all so that there will be no difficulty for anyone in availing the facility.”
Meanwhile, Director of AAI at Bhubaneswar Suresh Hota was hopeful that the flight would soon. “If everything goes as per plan I think it will be sooner not later, because over ninety five percent work on Rourkela airport is over,” said Hota. He further added, “my team from Jharsuguda had verified it and have confirmed that all the work were over only this MoU was being waited for.” The all-important precision approach path indicator (PAPI), the instrument which guides the incoming flight is to be installed. “My team visited there and soon it will be procured and installed, and meanwhile SAIL will have to get the licence from Director General of Civil Aviation for the purpose, and we are helping them in this regard,” informed Hota.
The airport will cater to 19 seater planes under the scheme. The runway length is 1820 and 30 meters in width. The final modalities are being worked out at this moment informed Hota, like how it is going to be managed. “The AAI is mandated to provide the communication and air traffic control facilities and rest is managed by the other body there, this is under the airport operation system,” said Hota. This will be followed here as per the release, which mentions, “under the MoU, AAI as an implementation agency under RCS-UDAN would be executing the required works before commencement of RCS flights at all these three airports. Eventually AAI will operate and manage Airport Operations for Rourkela airport, on behalf of SAIL for three years.”
