State awaits security clearance for bridge expansion of Gaggal airport

Strap — Central experts to evaluate if the bridge be viable for expansion of Gaggal airport

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, November 18

The government is waiting for security clearance for a bridge over the Manji for the expansion of the Gaggal airport.

Sources here said the report for security clearance of the proposed bridge was sent to the Union Ministry for Civil Aviation in August. It had been about three months now but no response had been received from the ministry.

The river passes through Gaggal where the airport is located.

The sources said for the expansion, the airstrip had to be expanded from the present length of 1,372 metres to 3,010 metres. It had been proposed that the bridge would have to constructed over the river which can handle the weight of bigger planes. Union ministry experts would evaluate if the bridge would be viable for the expansion of the airport or not.

The sources said the land acquisition process for the expansion could only begin after security clearance for the bridge.

As per the proposal prepared by the state government, 144 hectares have to be acquired which include 120 hectares private land. The remaining 24 hectares is government land much of which is under the possession of individuals.

Deputy Commissioner, Kangra, Nipun Jindal said security clearance from the Union ministry was being awaited and it was likely to be received soon, he said.

Another bottleneck for the expansion of the airport is the availability of funds. The Finance Commission had announced Rs 400 crore for the expansion. However, as per the report prepared by revenue officials of Kangra, about Rs 500 crore would be required for acquisition of 120 hectares land.

Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur during his recent visit to Dharamsala had said the state government was pressing the Government of India for more funds.

The Centre has already listed the Gaggal airport for disinvestment till March 2022. The airport is the busiest airport of the state receiving five flights daily, including four plying between Dharamsala and Delhi and one between Chandigarh and Delhi.