From our Staff Correspondent
DIBRUGARH, July 7: Enormous economic and communication benefits are in pipeline for eastern Assam and Aruchal Pradesh with the completion of the ambitious runway extension project at the Dibrugarh airport sometime in 2017, while the actual ground work on the project is expected to start in September this year after completion of the necessary formalities relating to the tendering process and allotment of work.
This was disclosed by Airport Director of the Mohanbari Airport, KS Pandian here recently to social activists and teachers of the Oil India Higher Secondary School, Duliajan, bajyoti Borkakoty and Raju Kumar Chetry.
“According to plan, the runway at the airport is going to be extended to 7,500 feet, with the land acquisition process for the project having been completed in September last year. The technical advantage of this extension will be that a mid-sized jet aircraft like an Airbus 320 or a Boeing 737 can take off and land at the airport with a full load of passengers and their baggage and also with a cargo load of not less than 2 tons.”
Pandian said that then a cargo of fresh fruits and vegetables produced in this entire region could be transported to cities like Delhi and Mumbai, which would fetch good market rates for the same. Citing an example, he said that broccoli produced in this region and selling for Rs. 30 per kg locally could fetch not less than Rs. 100 per kg if sold in the markets in Mumbai. That way, he said, the rural agrarian economy of the region could benefit tremendously. Pandian however, stressed the need for awareness among the local farmers and entrepreneurs for taping such benefits, that an upgraded Dibrugarh airport had to offer in the not so distant future.
Pointing out the huge tourism potential of this region, particularly the wide range of flora and fau found in the rain forests of Jaipur in the Dibrugarh District, Poba in the Dhemaji district in north bank of the mighty river Brahmaputra and the Dibru Saikhowa tiol Park in the Tinsukia district in the close vicinity of the airport and also to the finest of the Assam tea produced in the tea gardens in the surroundings, KS Pandian, the airport director, said that any tourist coming to this region would be literally mesmerized by the scenic beauty that has been gifted by ture itself.
The airport director also informed that he had taken initiatives for displaying some heritage photographs relating to the region’s petroleum industry at the airport and that he would also welcome photographs relating to the heritage of the mighty Ahom kingdom if provided to the Airport Authority of India by the tourism department of Assam and also by any individual.
Stressing his endeavour to provide the best quality of services and amenities to around 1,000 odd passengers who use airport every day, the airport director said, “While we expect a better customer satisfaction rating by the passengers travelling to and from Dibrugarh airport, we would welcome any suggestion for improvement of passenger friendly services at this airport and that the same may also be e-mailed to us at the email address apcdib@aai.aero,” said Pandian.