Hisar set for global takeoff; upgraded airport on the anvil

Deepender Deswal

Tribune News Service

Hisar, December 29

Hisar is set to connect to the world with Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar announcing upgrade of the local airstrip as an international airport.

Talking to mediapersons this evening, Khattar said the state government had decided to upgrade the airport to connect to international destinations.

“Under the international norms, the minimum distance required between two airports should be 100-150 km. Hisar is 165 km from the nearest airport in Delhi. All requirements will be met in a time-bound manner by removing the hurdles.”

The Chief Minister said they were awaiting a clearance from the environment and civil aviation ministries at the Centre.

“The state government will not delay the project on its part,” he said.

Sources said government officials had conducted an aerial survey of the airstrip a few days ago and details of the land available and other requirements were being looked into to speed up the project in consonance with the civil aviation ministry.

The previous Congress regime in the state had revived the hopes of the local people by announcing a domestic airport in Hisar.

Located around 5 km from the town along NH-10, the airstrip is presently managed by the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation (HICA) and imparts flying and gliding training to youngsters.

The flying club owns two aircraft — a four-seat Cessna 172 and two-seat Cessna 152 — besides two motorised gliders.

The 4,000 foot-long strip will be extended to 6,000 feet for landing of aircraft such as ATR turboprops and jets.

The airstrip was constructed in 1965 for the Hisar Aviation Club, which was merged with the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation in 1999.

The sources said around 490 acres were earmarked for developing the strip as a domestic airport. But the new government will have to revise the land estimates to develop it as an international airport, said a source.