Greenfield airport ‘set’ to see light of day as Centre clears proposal

ITANAGAR, Jan 11: After confronting several hurdles including land compensation issue, the Greenfield airport at Hollongi, apparently, is going to see the light of day as the PIB meeting in the Union Ministry of Finance today cleared the proposal after detailed deliberations on each item of the project proposal.

If everything falls into places, according to plan, the much awaited airport will come up in four years time viz in early 2023.

The airport in the State Capital, which is expected to shot up the State’s economy, will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1042.37 crore including Rs 955.37 crore (central share) and Rs 87 crore (state share).

 Finally, the dream of an airport at the State Capital will become a reality, which has been due to the day to day monitoring and follow up by Chief Minister Pema Khandu at each step of the project approval, said a press note from CMO.

On receipt of the environment clearance from the Ministry of Environment & Forests, the Steering Committee of the Ministry of Civil Aviation had cleared the proposal of Greenfield Airport at Hollongi on 28th December, 2018.

The PIB meeting in the Ministry of Finance today cleared the proposal after detailed deliberations on each item of the project proposal. To be built at an estimated cost of Rs 1042.37 crore, the Greenfield airport at Hollongi will be a state-of-the-art infrastructure which will propel economic development besides improving connectivity for the local population. Tourism will also see a huge boost with the coming up of this project.

The PIB after very detailed discussion approved the land acquisition rate as proposed by the Committee and endorsed by the State Govt. However, the PIB noted that it shall be the responsibility of the State Govt to hand over the land free of all encumbrances to the AAI and set a target to have the airport ready within four years.

“It is matter of great joy for TEAM ARUNACHAL that today, decades-old dream of having our own Airport has been realised. I thank the Prime Minister and the Govt of India for their unstinted support in having this project see the light of the day,” said a visibly overjoyed Chief Minister.