Karnataka - Mysore   

Runway, taxiway of Mysore airport to be ready by April

– PHOTO: M.A. SRIRAM

Progressing well: Work on the runway of the Mysore airport is on at a brisk pace.

MYSORE: The “city royale” will emerge on the air map of India to cash in on the aviation boom and the first flight may take off from the upgraded airport by December end.

The runway to cater to ATR is taking shape fast and extension to cater to wide-bodied Boeing and Airbus flights is being taken up concomitantly.

While the length of the runway will be 1,740 metres and width 30 metres on completion of the first phase, the taxiway will be 223 metres in length and 30 metres in width all of which will be ready by April. Work on the airport terminal will be taken up in due course and is expected to be completed on time for the inaugural flight from the city.

This was disclosed during a review of the work on the Mysore airport by C.H. Vijayashankar, Mysore MP, who was apprised of the developments by M.N.N. Rao, Deputy General Manager of the Airports Authority of India.

A delegation comprising senior officials from the AAI, Forest Department, Mysore City Corporation (MCC) and Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Company (CESC) visited the Mandakalli airport to review the progress and ensure better coordination among various agencies.

Mr. Rao pointed out that according to the memorandum of understanding signed between the AAI and the State Government, the work should be ready within 24 months from the date of commencement. Hence, January 2009 was the deadline. But they were confident of completing it ahead of schedule.

The machinery, specially procured for building the runway, had become fully operational.

About 40 per cent of the work had been completed and a proposal to divert Mysore-Nanjandud Road had been submitted to the National Highways Authority of India for approval. This would entail providing an alternative route to Nanjangud as the AAI proposed to acquire an additional 311 acres of land to extend the runway to facilitate the operation of Boeing and Airbus services, Mr. Rao said.

He said 735 acres of land would be acquired for the implementation of the airport master plan.

While there has been no delay in the progress or cost escalation, the meeting underlined the need for greater coordination among the agencies as a few points raised in earlier reviews cropped up again.

For instance, the AAI was promised 3.85 lakh litres of water a day to facilitate construction work, but an official from the city corporation tried to shift the responsibility of ensuring water supply on the Karnataka Industrial Area Development Authority (KIADB).

When an AAI official pointed out that the Deputy Commissioner had promised to ensure regular water supply for the completion of work, Mr. Vijayashankar promised to hold another meeting to sort out the issue.

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