Key hurdle cleared for civil airport at Purnia

A key hurdle in the way of a civilian enclave at the Indian Air Force airport in Purnia has been cleared and the required land for the facility will be provided soon, district magistrate Rahul Kumar said on Thursday.

A key hurdle in the way of a civilian enclave at the Indian Air Force airport in Purnia has been cleared and the required land for the facility will be provided soon, district magistrate Rahul Kumar said on Thursday.

The Patna high court remanded all 7 pending cases related to a civil enclave in Purnia to Collector’s court for disposal. (HT Photoi)

“Happy to share that our consistent efforts for Purnia airport have finally paid off today (March 10). Honourable High Court, Patna, has remanded all 7 pending cases to Collector’s court for disposal. We will be in position now to hand over the required land very soon,” Kumar tweeted.

The DM later told HT, “The matter related to land acquisition was sub judice in Patna high court, and now the honourable court has sent the cases to collector’s court. We can hopefully sort out the matter which will pave way to the construction of civil enclave at Chunapur air force station.”

Local activist Vijay Kumar Shreevasatava, who has been writing to various authorities, including to Prime Minister Office (PMO), in this regard expressed happiness over the development. “I hope the long awaited dream of the people for Purnia will soon be a reality.”

The process of both Bihta and Purnia airports in Bihar had started at the same time and the Airport Authority of India (AAI) had asked for requisite land from the state government for both the airports.

In 2012, at the initiative of the then wing commander at Chunapur air force station, Vishwajeet Kumar, flight services between Purnia and Patna and Purnia and Kolkata had started. However, in 2013, the services were discontinued.

The first flight service between Purnia and Kolkata was, however, introduced in 1956 but was discontinued the same year.

Later, in 1963, Chunapur air force station came into existence. Once again, in 1976, civil air services were introduced but discontinued in 1978.

The runway of Chunapur air force station (11000X150 feet) is similar to that of airports in big cities like Delhi, Kolkata, Mumbai, Chennai, Hyderabad and Mangalore.