Rs 300 crore proposal for airport expansion

The district administration has sent Rs 300 crore proposal to the State government for expansion of the airport, including widening of the runway, in order to make it an international airport, official sources said.

The administration has identified around 613 acres of land for this purpose, as against the original plan of 848 acres, they said.

The area was reduced considering the possible demolition of nearly 850 houses in the vicinity, as part of the expansion. However, with the reduction of the area, still around 400 houses have to be removed, the sources said.

Though by reducing another eight acres, 100 more houses could be saved, it would not be possible to construct the runway of international standard, sources said.