Post News Network
Bhubaneswar, August 6: Bhubaneswar Municipal authorities’ delay in clearing illegal encroachments in the city has derailed development plans of the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA).
Airport assistant general manager (Engg-civil) UK Tiwary said Thursday, BPIA’s plan to extend the basic airstrip area on both sides of the runway from the existing 75 metres to 150 metres has been hindered due to the failure of the authorities to build a boundary wall due to the existence of a slum.
BPIA sources said, the municipal authorities have failed to evict the slum-dwellers and residents occupying 2.75 acres of land belonging to the Orissa University of Agriculture and Technology (OUAT), despite repeated pleas by the BPIA officials to hand over the land after evicting the encroachers.
Officials said the slum area is part of the 21.75 acres of land handed over to BPIA, by GA department two years back for the airport development.
Officials said, they have envisaged the doubling of the air-strip to meet the mandatory safety standards set by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).
A tender, at the cost of about Rs 6.5 crore, was floated two months earlier to complete the work, suggested the officials.
Raman Swain, a slum-dweller said, BMC officials have undertaken a detailed survey in the slum under Rajiv Awas Yojana (Ray) but they have not received any benefits so far.
They have been residing in the slum for over two decades, he added.
Although it is difficult, the slum-dwellers were willing to re-locate to other parts of the city if the concerned authorities provide alternative arrangements for their rehabilitation.
When contacted, BMC deputy commissioner Deepak Routray said the Corporation has not chalked out modalities like finding alternative places for the resettlement of the slum dwellers.
BMC officials, however, indicated that issues like arranging temporary homes and assistance for the slum-dwellers hinder resettlement programme.
BPIA officials said, they were planning to explore other development activities such as construction of a parallel taxi way for aircraft at the airport, which would be used for landing. The taxi way would help provide additional space for the aircraft.
