Dumka: State civil aviation secretary K Ravikumar on Friday said the Deoghar airport would soon become operational but he did not provide any deadline.
“The Deoghar airport was scheduled to become operational from November last year but the pandemic affected the pace of work at the airport,” K Ravikumar told reporters after inspecting the ongoing work at the Deoghar airport.
The aviation secretary also emphasised on the need to create job opportunities for the local people, by imparting them skill-based training.
“Crores of pilgrims visit Deoghar every year to pay offerings to Lord Baidyanath from across the country. They will have the option of travelling by air after the Deoghar airport becomes operational,” he said, adding the development would also boost tourism in neighbouring Dumka and Giridih.
Notably, different airlines have started surveying the flow of travellers to and from Deoghar and nearby railway stations to firm up their plans before starting their services from the temple town.
The Deoghar airport project spread over 657 acres of land, which is a joint venture between the AAI and the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), is believed to be strategically important for the air defence of the country as well.
The runway of the Deoghar airport is 2,500 metre long, which would enable landings and take-offs of airbuses.
Deoghar deputy commissioner Manjunath Bhajantri and AAI director Sandeep Dhingra were present at the airport during K Ravikumar’s visit .