West Champaran: Preparations are under way to develop Valmikinagar airport into a commercial airport, bringing new hope of better air connectivity to the region. A team of officials from the Airports Authority of India (AAI), based in Gorakhpur, recently visited the airport to inspect the existing facilities. The purpose of the visit was to study the current condition of the airport and explore the possibilities for expanding the runway and other infrastructure needed for regular commercial flight operations.
Revenue Officer of Bagaha-II, Ravi Prakash Chaudhary, said that important technical work will begin soon following the inspection. Soil testing of the airport land is expected to be carried out within the next few days to prevent technical problems during construction. At the same time, repairs to the airport boundary will be taken up, and bushes and wild vegetation on the premises will be removed to improve cleanliness and safety. Authorities are also planning to strengthen security arrangements in view of future commercial operations.
To ensure proper security at the airport, a senior police officer of DSP rank will soon be posted at Valmikinagar airport. In addition, more police personnel will be deployed to carry out regular security checks and maintain law and order. These measures are being planned to ensure that the airport meets all required safety standards before commercial flights begin.
Connectivity to the airport is also set to improve. The road linking the airport to the national highway will be widened to 40 feet and developed into a three-lane road. Two lanes will be used for normal traffic, while one lane will be kept for VIP movement. For this work, land will be acquired wherever required. If the land belongs to private owners, the government will acquire it and pay compensation at the current market rate.
At present, the runway at Valmikinagar airport is about 1100 metres long, which limits the size of aircraft that can land there. Officials said the runway will be extended to allow larger aircraft to operate. There is also a proposal to shift the SSB camp located near the airport to another suitable location to support future expansion. Officials from the revenue department, along with AAI representatives, were present during the inspection, and the visit has strengthened local expectations that Valmikinagar airport will soon begin its journey towards commercial operations.
