THE Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) has finalised two sites for Gadchiroli airport and is conducting its Obstacle Limitations Surfaces Survey (OLS). Of the two sites one will get green signal and then the process of developing the airport will begin. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who is also the Guardian Minister of Gadchiroli, has emphasised on speedy completion of work. If everything goes as per the plan, then the land acquisition is likely to begin during rainy season. A land was finalised in 2023 a but its prefeasibility report came negative. With industries like Lloyds, JSW and others coming into the district, the need for an airport arose.

 

Against this backdrop Fadnavis convened a special meeting and asked officials to speed up the process. He also reviewed work at the existing or proposed airports in Ratnagiri, Shirdi, Amravati (Belora), Purandar, Karad, Chandrapur, Solapur, Dhule, Phaltan, Akola and Gadchiroli too. Meanwhile, MADC Vice-Chairperson Swati Pandey visited three sites in Gadchiroli and finalised two, based on the pre-feasibility report presented by Airport Authority of India (AAI). AAI will now do the Obstacle Limitation Surfaces (OLS) survey.

 

It ensures that airspace around aerodromes is free from obstacles so as to permit intended safe aeroplane operations. This survey is also done to prevent unnecessary growth of obstacles. While talking to ‘The Hitavada’, an officials informed, “We will need about 700-acre land. We will check whether there is any hilly region or waterbody. We also have to see that there is no obstacle in the 5 km vicinity on one side and 15 km vicinity on the other side of the airport.” The airport’s utility lies in providing access to steel and mining companies. It is also expected to boost tourism in the district that boasts of places like the Markanda temple, the confluence of Indravati, Pamul Gautami and Parlkota rivers at Bhamragad and the Surjagad hills in Etapalli. Fadnavis has been calling the district a Steel Hub of the country. With investment coming in, Gadchiroli will need a good airport.