Survey for three greenfield airports in state begins

Vishal Joshi

Tribune News Service

Kurukshetra, August 29

The Airport Authority of India (AAI) has started pre-feasibility studies for three ‘greenfield airports’ or an aviation facility to be developed from a scratch, in Haryana.

According to official sources, the state government has proposed air connectivity in Kurukshetra, Jind and Chhara in Jhajjar district. After undertaking field studies at Jhajjar, the Central team surveyed various sites in Jind on Friday last week.

Sources said the AAI experts suggested sites measuring 4-km wide and 1-km long for the proposed project in Jind. However, spot for the proposed projects are yet to be finalised. Swapan Baruah, the project nodal officer from the Haryana Institute of Civil Aviation (HICA), told The Tribune that the experts would study revenue records of the sites concerned before submitting the report to the state authorities. He said the experts from various wings of the AAI would visit Kurukshetra soon.

According to information, the state government has accorded administrative approval for making a payment of Rs 30 lakh to the AAI for pre-feasibility studies. While Kurukshetra is being viewed as a major tourist potential point, Union Steel Minister Birender Singh is seen as the force behind an airport in his home district Jind. Due to its proximity to Delhi, Jhajjar is being explored for air connectivity, sources said.

Meanwhile, BJP MLA from Thanesar Subhash Sudha said an airport facility in Kurukshetra would boost tourism. “An airport is a long-pending demand in the holy city. Kurukshetra is the most visited place in Haryana where lakhs of people visit the places associated with the Bhagavad Gita and eight Sikh gurus,” said the MLA.

He said the state government had already approved a project for a five-star hotel and air connectivity will be an added feature for the promotion of the holy city. An airport is needed to promote spiritual and cultural tourism, he added.

“The Centre has included Kurukshetra in the Krishan Circuit to attract tourists from India and abroad. If an airport is set up, the region will further have a positive impact on development and employment in the region,” said Sudha.