AMRAVATI: The state government has released a fund of Rs6.45 crore to expedite work at Belora airport.
Guardian minister Yashomati Thakur expressed the confidence that the airport development work will assume speed following the government releasing the fund to Maharashtra Airport Development Company Ltd.
The government had earmarked Rs128 crore in 2020-21 for development of airports in its budget. Accordingly, Rs2.25 crore were earlier released for the airport here. However, more funds were required to complete various works. Thakur pursued the matter with the chief minister and his deputy.
The work on the development of the airport was moving at snail's pace for want of funds. Thakur had requested Ajit Pawar to make adequate provision for the purpose in 2021-22 budget. Pawar responded positively and the GAD released the funds to MADA.
Gaurav Upshyam, senior manager, MADA, said that the fund would be utilized to develop runway and security wall.
He said that works completed thus far included construction of Badnera-Yavatmal state highway diversion, 1 lakh litre capacity GSR at the airport. He said that about 70% work on expansion of runway, taxi way, apron, isolation bay, peripheral road, GSE area and cleanliness machinery have been completed while work on 2.5km long security wall is yet to be completed. He said that it will now be completed as funds have been made available. He said that funds would also be spent on the pending work of administrative building and Phase-I and Phase-II works.