Built in record time, Bathinda airport yet to take off

Jupinderjit Singh/TNS

Virk Kalan (Bathinda), December 5
Building an airport is not an easy job. But it may become a Herculean task if it is to be built in a water-logged and semi-arid region dotted with huge sand dunes. This task was faced by engineers of the National Airport Authority of India (NAAI) at Virk Kalan where they built an airport in record 16 months.

The 40-acre-wide Civil Airport, 27 km from Bathinda, has been built at a cost of Rs 25 crore. The dream project of the Badals is now awaiting aviation companies to begin flights.

"When I first came here, I thought I was in a mini Chambal ki ghati. Before beginning the work, we had to level the sand dunes. Waterlogging was another troubled area," said Sanjay Tripathi, airport director.

The airport's apron has a parking facility for two Boeing 321 (150 seaters). The parking facility can be expanded depending on the air traffic. The present terminal has been built over an area of 1,500 sq m.

Now that the airport is ready, the big question is when the flights will start. The airport's infrastructure is gathering dust due to the delay in its inauguration. The airport authorities have awarded the contract of cleaning the machines and premises to a company for Rs 7 lakh.

Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had recently said the flights would start only after the Central Government inaugurated the project. "We have reduced VAT on fuel from 21 per cent to 5 per cent. This will lure aviation companies to refuel from this airport," he said.

Sources, however, said it might take a while for the flights to start. The winter schedule of the airlines had already commenced and it might not be easy for them to introduce new flights, they said, adding three companies - Spicejet, Religare and Ventura - had so far shown interest.

The project has proved a boon for Virk Kalan villagers. It led to escalation in land prices. One acre land, which was worth Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, was acquired for nearly Rs 8 lakh for the project. The cost of the land now has shot up to Rs 25 lakh per acre. Some claim the price of land near the airport may shoot to Rs 70 lakh per acre once the airport becomes functional.

The airport project also generated employment for villagers. Nachhatar Singh, a welder in the village, said he had been earning about Rs 10,000 per month. "My income doubled after I started working as a supervisor at the project, apart from handling the welding work," he said.

Sukhwinder Singh, another villager, said several farmers earned thousands of rupees per month by leasing out tractors to the construction company. "Many villagers also worked as labourers," he said. The village road which was earlier marked by potholes has been laid with concrete. Nearly 50,000 cubic meters of sand dug out from the airport land was used to build a grain market in the village.

However, the villagers have a grouse. "It is being called Civil Airport, Bathinda. The name of our village should be added to it. We have given our land for the project. We want to be on the world air route map," said Bikar Singh, a member of Virk Kalan panchayat.

Interestingly, locals also do not seem to be happy with the access road passing through the village. "Gradually, vehicular traffic will rise and move at a high speed, which may cause accidents," said Sukhwinder Singh.

Delay in inauguration

The airport's infrastructure is gathering dust due to the delay in its inauguration. Deputy Chief Minister Sukhbir Singh Badal had recently said the flights would start only after the Central Government inaugurated the project

Land prices escalate

The project has proved a boon for Virk Kalan villagers. It led to escalation in land prices. One acre land, which was worth Rs 3 lakh to Rs 4 lakh, was acquired for nearly Rs 8 lakh for the project. The cost of the land now has shot up to Rs 25 lakh per acre

Project brings jobs

The airport project also generated employment opportunities for villagers. A large number of them worked as technicians, supervisors and labourers. Several farmers earned thousands of rupees by leasing out their tractors to the construction firm

Villagers’ grievance

The airport has been named as Civil Airport, Bathinda. The name of our vill
age should be added to it. We have given our land for the project. The village should be given due recognition. We want to be on the world air route map: say villagers

link :http://epaper.tribuneindia.com/c/563926