Akshay Azad
Jammu, July 12: The expansion of Jammu Airport is reportedly caught in a quagmire as the executing agency Airport Authority of India (AAI), has so far failed to acquire the land, required for creating various facilities.
Sources informed Early Times that apart from expansion of existing runway for increase the landing surface, the AAI also required land for construction of parking slots and for other allied purposes.
"The AAI needs a total of around 27 Kanal land including 17 Kanal from Satwari and 10 kanals from Narwal Pine area which is in possession of local residents, besides it also needs the land in possession of Sheep Husbandry Farm, which is yet to be acquired for creation of additional facilities", sources said.
They further said that another major impediment was rehabilitation of nearly 60 families, including 28 from Satwari and 32 from Narwal Pain.
"We have identified around 60 Kanals land of Irrigation department at Rakhrayapur, to rehabilitate these families and has also decided to pay compensation for house structures", an official said, adding that but the families went to Court, challenging the compensation price.
He further said that the matter was sub-judice and until the decision of court would not come, the process could not be started. "The land for relocation of sheep husbandry farm is yet to be identified", he said, adding, it would also delay the expansion of project.
Pertinently the project was proposed by then Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, during his visit to Jammu and had announced Rs. 70 Crores for expansion and up-gradation of Jammu Airport, to increase land surface and passenger-holding capacity from 200 to 700. The project also includes increase in landing surface, setting up of hangers, modernization and expansion of the airport building and its premises. |
