After the completion of the 2,500-meter runway extension at Keshod Airport, the Ministry of Civil Aviation has planned to install advanced navigational infrastructure. As per the master plan and scope of work, provision of Instrument Landing System (ILS), CAT – I Approach Lightning System and DVOR has been considered for Keshod Airport . This information was given by the Minister of Civil Aviation Shri Rammohan Naidu Kinjarpu through a letter to Shri Parimal Nathwani, Member of Rajya Sabha.
The Minister also said that the Ministry has announced the scope of work for extending the runway at Keshod Airport to 2,500 meters and the contract for this work has also been awarded. The length of the runway for the installation of ILS should be more than 1,800 meters and the existing runway of Keshod Airport is 1,300 meters long.
Shri Parimal Nathwani wrote a letter to the Minister of Civil Aviation drawing the attention of the issue of frequent flight cancellations at Keshod Airport.
In his letter, he raised the issue of frequent cancellations of flights due to weather-related problems , especially early morning fog, and inadequate navigational infrastructure including Instrument Landing System (ILS). Mr. Nathwani wrote in the letter that frequent cancellations of flights create disruptions , which defeats the purpose of regional route development. The Keshod airport was renovated for the convenience of visitors to Gir National Park, the only habitat of Asiatic lions, and Somnath, one of the twelve Jyotirlingas of Lord Shiva , but frequent cancellations of flights do not serve this purpose.
Earlier , in response to a question asked by Shri Parimal Nathwani in the Rajya Sabha, it was stated that the estimated cost of the runway expansion project is Rs. 190.56 crore and the time frame for completion of the project has been fixed at 18 months and the estimated completion date is January 2027.
It is noteworthy that the Airports Authority of India has announced that the Keshod Airport will be developed at an estimated cost of Rs. 364 crore , which includes the construction of a new terminal building at a cost of Rs. 142.17 crore. Spread over an area of 6,500 square meters, the new terminal building is designed to handle 400 departing and 400 arriving passengers simultaneously.
Also Read: Prey Base for Lions in Gir Rises by 37% Over Five Years: Centre to Parimal Nathwani https://www.vibesofindia.com/prey-base-for-lions-in-gir-rises-by-37-over-five-years-centre-to-parimal-nathwani/
