Dhenkanal: Birasal airstrip under Kankadahad police limits in Dhenkanal district has once again come under spotlight after the tragic death of a trainee pilot and a captain in an accident here Monday.
The airstrip has a special place in the history of Odisha. In the past, the airstrip witnessed the then prime ministers Indira Gandhi and Rajiv Gandhi, Biju Patnaik and Sanjay Gandhi landing here.
It was lying abandoned for days when an Indian Air Force unit in West Bengal evinced interest to use the airstrip. The officials of the unit also visited the place May 16, 2019. Prior to this, a team of the Union Civil Aviation Ministry’s Flight Training Institute had visited the airstrip. The team was led by Chief Flight Instructor OBK Singh and two officers of the training institute.
The Flight Training Institute had plans to use the airstrip as a training centre for pilots.
To bring the 50-acre airstrip up to the mark, the general administration department, sanctioned Rs 9.18 crore in the year 2017-18. The works department carried out the construction work. The runway was laid out and other ancillary facilities were constructed. A compound wall was erected, spending Rs 1 crore.
With construction work coming to an end in the year 2018-19, the airstrip was handed over to the civil aviation department. “After getting NOC for providing aviation training, it has been the medium for many students who are dreaming to be a pilot. The Government Pilot Training Institute (GATI) is providing training,” informed executive engineer, works department, Manoranjan Biswal.
Referring to Monday’s mishap, local residents said, “This is one of the oldest airstrips in the state which could be more popular if the training is imparted with giving importance to the safety of the trainees as well as the people residing nearby.”
PNN