The long-pending development of Akola Airport has received a major boost, with the Maharashtra Government granting administrative and financial approval for the acquisition of land required to extend the existing runway. The State has sanctioned Rs 208.76 crore for the purpose, paving the way for operationalisation of the airport.
Approximately 22.4 hectares of additional land is required to extend the runway and enable the landing and take-off of larger aircraft.
The expansion is also essential to meet regulatory norms for airport operations.The issue of additional land acquisition had remained unresolved for several years. Earlier, a team from the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had inspected the airport to assess the feasibility of commencing air services. Public representatives from Akola have repeatedly demanded completion of the project, but the inadequate runway length prevented flight operations.According to the AAI, the existing runway must be extended from 1,400 metres to 1,800 metres to facilitate safe aircraft operations.
A joint survey conducted for the project identified 486 landowners in the affected area, primarily located in Shivar village, which has since been incorporated into the Akola city limits. Of the total landowners, 472 hold non-agricultural (NA) plots.The General Administration Department (GAD) had initially approved direct negotiations with landowners for acquiring the required land. However, a preliminary assessment by the district administration revealed that several landowners reside outside Akola, raising concerns about possible delays and disputes over compensation.To expedite the process, the administration proposed acquiring the land under the provisions of the Land Acquisition Act, 2013. A compensation outlay of Rs 189.53 crore was estimated for the purpose.
The proposal was forwarded by the Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) and subsequently approved by a committee headed by the Chief Secretary.With financial approval now in place, the runway expansion project is expected to gather momentum, bringing Akola closer to launching regular air services.
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