The foundation stone of the much-awaited runway extension project of the Dibrugarh airport was laid on Friday. The ceremony organised on the eve of 75th anniversary of Indian Independence (Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav) by Airport Authority of India was attended by deputy commissioner Pallav Gopal Jha as chief guest, IAF Group Captain Yadvendra Kumar, Col Amit Beniwal and Dibrugarh SP Shwetank Mishra as guests of honour apart from Ramjee Awasthi, Dibrugarh Airport Director.
The project that will cost Rs 35 crore will increase the length of the runway of the Dibrugarh airport from the current 1,830 metre to 2,290 metre. The deadline for completing the project is December 31, 2022.
Airport officials said that the project will enhance the safety of aircraft operation, lessen the load penalty to the aircraft apart from reducing the minima to operate in low visibility with CAT-I lighting system. The ILS will be placed in new position that will ensure full fledged safe and secure aircraft operation.
Currently, the construction work of the ATC tower and hanger is also going on at the airport. The construction of ATC tower is being done at a cost of Rs 31 crore. The ATC tower and hanger will be completed by March 31, 2022. The new ATC tower with increased height, equipped with all modern facilities like fully air-conditioned lifts and LED lights will enhance air traffic management as well as overall safety at the Dibrugarh airport.
The easternmost airport of the country, the Dibrugarh airport, located at Mohanbari, 15-km away from Dibrugarh town was built in the early 1950s. The airport is well linked through direct or indirect flights to all prime cities of the country and handles in excess of 3.5 lakh air passenger traffic annually. Over the last decade, the airport has witnessed a significant growth of around 112 per cent of passenger traffic. In the year 2018-19, the total passenger movement was 3,84,595 as compared to 3,41,677 in 2017-18.
In February 2009, the old Dibrugarh airport building was replaced by a swanky state-of-the-art integrated terminal building. Spread over 1,13,410 square feet, the terminal building has a seating capacity of 500 passengers, 10 check-in counters and 5 remote parking bays. Located at a height of 362 feet above sea level, the airport is equipped with night landing and aerobridge facilities.
