Bokaro Airport
Terminal Building of Bokaro Airport
Summary
Airport typePublic
OwnerSteel Authority of India Limited
OperatorAirports Authority of India
ServesBokaro
LocationBokaro, Jharkhand, India
Opened28 February 2024; 20 days' time (2024-02-28)
Elevation AMSL715 ft / 218 m
Coordinates23°38′36″N 86°08′56″E / 23.64333°N 86.14889°E / 23.64333; 86.14889
Map
VEBK is located in Jharkhand
VEBK
VEBK
Location of the airport in Jharkhand
VEBK is located in India
VEBK
VEBK
VEBK (India)
Runways
Direction Length Surface
ft m
13/31 5,413 1,650 Asphalt

Bokaro Airport (IATA: none, ICAO: VEBK) is a domestic airport owned by the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and operated by the Airports Authority of India (AAI). It is located approximately 4.1 km (2.5 mi) from the city centre. The airport has been primarily developed to serve the region of Eastern part of Jharkhand and some districts of West Bengal. It is spread over an area of 200 acres (81 ha) while the runway is 1,650 meters long, capable of handling ATR 72 type of aircraft.[2] Former Chief Minister Raghubar Das and former Minister of State for Civil Aviation Jayant Sinha laid the foundation stone of development for the airport on 25 August 2018, and is set to be inaugurated on 28 February 2024.[3][4]

History

The airport was built in the late 1960s to handle private flights for operations of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL). It began operating as a private airport until 2010. In the mid-2010s, the former Chief Minister Raghubar Das drafted a plan to develop this airport to handle scheduled commercial flights.

The Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) in 2018, to construct the airport, to promote tourism in the state.[5] The development work included resurfacing and strengthening of the existing runway, apron, taxiways, including grading of the operational area, along with the provision of expendable low-cost terminal building, installation of Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower, ESS building, watch tower, PAPI, night landing facilities on the runway and other ancillary works which are now almost completed.

Infrastructure

The boundary wall of the airport is completed. After completion of the boundary wall, a perimeter road was constructed. Other works including the runway, terminal building, access road, drainage system and passenger lodges have been completed in the expansion work being done for commercial air service from the airport. At least 6000 trees were axed, while over 1000 trees were transplanted for the expansion of the airport. With an investment of ₹ 8 crore, the Air Traffic Control (ATC) tower was built by Airports Authority of India (AAI), and the advantage of this tower is that it is a mobile tower which can be moved at any location while its height is also adjustable, according to the requirements.[6]

UDAN Scheme

In June 2023, Alliance Air and FlyBig was selected to operate flights from Bokaro to Kolkata and Patna, under the Government's Regional Connectivity Scheme called UDAN.[7]

See also

References

  1. ^ "Airport codes Bokaro". airportsbase.org. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  2. ^ "Prime Minister will Inaugurate Bokaro and Dumka Airports". Drishti IAS. Retrieved 2 January 2024.
  3. ^ "UDAN flights from Bokaro soon". The Pioneer. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  4. ^ "CM lays Bokaro airport foundation". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  5. ^ "Bokaro soon to land on aviation map of country". www.dailypioneer.com. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  6. ^ "Air Traffic Control tower installed at Bokaro Airport". The Pioneer. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
  7. ^ "Jharkhand Flights Start From Bokaro Airport From February 28 Civil Aviation Ministry Has Fixed The Date". Prabhat Khabar. Retrieved 5 December 2023.
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