State aviation infrastructure issues and further development discussed with Union Minister
New Delhi I Mar I 24 :
Balo Raja, Minister(Civil Aviation, Urban Affairs & Land Management) called on Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu,the Union Minister for Civil Aviation at the latter’s office in New Delhi today along with Kaling Moyong, President State BJP and Rajesh Kamalan, OSD to Minister and brought the following important issues to the notice of the Union Minister for its early resolutions. During the meeting, the Secretary, Addl. Secretaries, Joint Secretaries from the Ministry of CA & Member(Planning) from the AAI were attended.
Raja drew the attention of the Union Minister for CA to the following important issues related to the aviation sector of the State.
Raja expressed the gratitude of the people of Arunachal to the sincere efforts and determination of the Prime Minister Narendra Modiji, in making the dreams into reality by inaugurating and operationalization of much awaited Donyi-Polo Airport at Hollongi. However, he stated that the airport is still operating from a temporary terminal building due to its inordinate delay in completion of its permanent Terminal Building, though the airport was inaugurated by the PM on 19th November,2022. Therefore, he urged the Union Minister’s intervention for ensuring its early completion. It was stated by the Ministry that the new terminal building would be completed by June this year and put to service thenceforth.
While apprising the matters related to introduction of daily flights to & fro Itanagar/Delhi including morning/evening schedules, immediate connecting flights from Kolkatta/New Delhi to other cities/towns, services to the southern parts by extending the existing flights via Guwahati and controlling the abnormal higher rates of fares, the Union Minister assured that new flights as above with services to the southern parts as requested by the Minister(CA) of Arunachal will be taken care of, for its implementation simultaneously with the inauguration of its new terminal building. Regarding the abnormal higher rates of fares, the Union Ministerstated that the issue was raised by Kiren Rijiju, Minister(Parliamentary Affairs etc) in a recent cabinet meeting and requested the PM for his kind interventions and the matter was under process.
Raja informed that we have already requested the AAI for incorporating its provision in the Master Plan upto 2047 for Arunachal Pradesh, and on this, Naidu directed the Member(Planning) to ensure its inclusion accordingly for implementation.
Balo Raja also brought to the notice of Naidu for the need of early construction of Bachelor Barracks for Security Personnel & deployment of CISF thereof in the airport, and briefed that as a stop-gap arrangement, the State Govt. has deployed its police personnel for the airport till deployment of CISF by the AAI, which has still not happened. Moreover, due to non-availability of accommodation facilities/bachelor barracks for the personnel, the State Police is also facing untold problems in discharging the assigned duties as they need to travel from their HQ situated at the State Capital for the purpose, which is about 25 KMs away from. Naidu gave specific directions to the AAI for its early construction vis-à-vis deployment of CISF personnel there.
He also stated that Tezu airport is functioning on Visual Flight Rules (VFR) and thus for want of Instrument Landing System (ILS) facility, flight operations to the airport are frequently getting cancelled, which adversely affects on load factor due to non-reliability of flight services. He also stated that the entire eastern part of Arunachal Pradesh solely depends on Tezu airport for air connectivity and with the frequent cancellation of flights causes untold problems to the people of the area. Hence, he advocated for early installation of ILS facilities there. Raja also requested the Union Minster for considering extension of Runway of the airport to suit landing/taking off bigger flights like Airbus 320 to enhance the air connectivity keeping in mind the growing scopes of passengers and tourists. Naidu agreed to those requests also.
On the issue related to Waiving-off Rental charges of AAI’s Fire & Security Equipment at Tezu airport, Rajastated that Tezu Airport came under RCS – UDAN from 15 August, 2021 with induction of ATR-72 flight service by Flybig. Due to internal issues, Flybigsuspended its operations and subsequently, Alliance Air started services between Tezu – Guwahati, which also not in operation from February last.
However, the State Govt. is in dark about their plans as the Alliance Air does not communicate anything with us. He narrated that as per the RCS MoU, fire service & security personnel at the airport are to be provided by the Sate Govt., for which we have provided State Police right from its beginning and the Fire service personnel from July 2022 onwards. He also added that Tezu Airport was an existing operational airport of the AAI and all Security & Fire Service Equipment of the AAI already in place, which are being used by the State forces for the airport. But AAI is raising rental charges which the State Govt. is unable to pay due to resource crunch though we have paid for the same in the initial period. In view of this, Raja requested for allowing the State Personnel posted at the airport to use the Fire & Security systems of AAI already placed there free-of-cost, and waiving off the rental charges as already raised by the AAI.
iOn Construction of new ALG/Airports at Richi, near Daporijo & Tarmoba (Kombo) near Aalo, Raja informed that an Inter-Ministerial team deputed by the MoCA had visited the site at Richi in November 2020 and as requested by the State Govt., the MoCA again deputed another Inter-Ministerial team on 26th – 28th October, 2021, which inspected both Richi & Tarmoba sites. As per the inspection reports, prima facie unidirectional VFR operation of DO-228 seems feasible at both the sites and suggested for OLS (Obstacle Limitation Surfaces) Survey to evaluate Operational feasibility and infrastructure development. Raja therefore, requested Naidu for asking the AAI to conduct the OLS Survey & final feasibility studies of both the sites to take forward the proposals.
iOn Construction of ALG at Dirang (Zimthumng) and Reactivation of old ALG at Anini (Alinye), Raja stated that with the persuasions from our Chief Minster with the Union Defense Minister, the MoCA has deputed an Inter Ministerial team comprising of members from AAI, IAF, NITI AAYOG, DGCA, BCAS and State Govt. had inspected both Dirang (Zimthung) and Anini (Alinye) sites on 17th – 21st November, 2020 and prima facie found that these sites are suitable for development of ALGs for small Fixed Wing Aircrafts. A team of IAF from EAC HQs also inspected the site at Dirang on 29th January, 2021 and recommended for development of ALG after leveling and extending the site. On further request by our CM for developing both the ALGs by MoD with dual provisions (for Civil and Military use), the Union Defense Minister agreed and conveyed his approval to the proposal. Accordingly, with the initiative of the Ministry of Defense, a Joint inspection team comprising of IAF, AAI, BCAS and State Govt. inspected both the sites on 20th & 22nd December, 2022 to finalize military and civil infrastructure, ALG Orientation, additional land requirement, Master Plan etc. It is learnt that inspection reports have been submitted by the EAC HQs (IAF) to the Ministry of Defense. The Union Minister asked the AAI to work out together with the IAF to finalize the Master Plan provisioning all the required infrastructures for civil & defense use/operations.
On developing new Heliports under RCS – UDAN 5.2, Raja made a request for considering the proposals already submitted to the Ministry for heliports at Koloriang, Anini, Tawang, Deomali, Seppa & Nacho for improving Helicopter connectivity under UDAN 5.2. In which, the Union Minister stated that under the new initiative of the GoI, heliports will be developed in all district & other important administrative HQs of NE States and requested for submitting a comprehensive proposal for the same. The Minister submitted two DO letters to these effects to the Union Minister.
During the course of discussion, Naidu informed Raja that Arunachal being a potential tourist destination, his Ministry along with FICCI proposed to organize the 3rd North East Aviation Summit at Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on 5thSeptember, 2025 and requested for availing this opportunity for enhancing the air connectivity in the State, whose last summit was successfully conducted at Shillong. Since this summit will help the State in strengthening air connectivity by developing small airstrips and heliports across the State, which would promote sustainable development through tailored aviation solutions, improving access to healthcare, education and emergency services of the State, Raja assured for extending all logistics supports in organizing the summit in a very impressive and splendor manner to its maximum extent.
Earlier on the day Raja and Moyong lead a delegation comprising of Chief Councilor and Councilors of PasighatMunicipal Council, with Director(Town Planning), EE(UD), who met Manoharlal Khattar, the Union Minister for Urban Affairs and requested for early consideration of the proposal related to development of Gumin nagar under Incubation of 8 new cities under XVth Finance Commission Grants. To this, Khattar assured for taking up on priority. The union minister assured that he would extend all possible supports to Arunachal Pradesh in re-developing the existing cities & towns with all modern amenities keeping in mind its strategicimportance. Later, they also met Gajendra Singh Shekhawat in presence of Kiren Rijiju, Minister for Minority & Parliamentary Affairs at his office. During the meeting, Shekhawat assured that he was working on to make Mechukha & Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh respectively as ‘Adventure Tourism Hub’ & Tourism hub of the nation in the coming days.
