Uttar Pradesh: First phase of Shravasti airport completed; expected to be operationalized by end of first quarter

LUCKNOW: Part of Buddh circuit, the first phase of Shravasti airport has been completed and is expected to be put into operations by the end of first quarter of current calendar year.
Next week, the airport authority of India (AAI) officials of Shravasti airport will visit the directorate general of civil aviation (DGCA) Delhi and give a presentation on the airport status, in order to fulfil the further requirements in order to get license to operate the airport. The AAI has already applied for a license.
Spread across 57 acre, the airport has a 1,530 meter long runway which could handle landing and take off 19 seater planes. The domestic airport of Shravasti will have direct air connectivity between Lucknow, Varanasi, Prayagraj and Kanpur.
Speaking to TOI, Shravasti airport director Satendra Yadav said, “The first phase of the airport has been developed under the central government’s regional connectivity UDAN scheme and will primarily serve tourists as Shravasti is one of the sacred places of Buddhism.”
Lord Buddha is said to have spent his time after attaining enlightenment in Shravasti. His sermons and teachings made Sravasti an important centre for Buddhist learnings.
Under UDAN scheme airstrips of Moradabad, Aligarh, Chitrakoot are also being developed.
“In second and third phase, the airport area will be expanded upto 725 acre. Under the second phase, the runway will be expanded upto 2,200 meters and will allow 72 seater ATR aircraft. However, in the third phase, the runway will be expanded upto 3,300 meters and will be able to allow landing and take off 180 seater planes of Boeing and Airbus,” said the director.
At present, the airport will only be able to operate in day time when weather conditions are clear, later in the second and third phase it would be enabled to land at night too and all-weather conditions.
The airport security and fire safety has been provided by the state government.