ITANAGAR, Nov 12 - During a visit to the airport construction site at Hollongi along the Assam-Arunachal Pradesh boundary today, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu urged the officials engaged in the Greenfield Airport construction works that the project should be completed by August, 2022. The foundation stone of the project was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on February 9, 2019. The target for completion of the project was set as November 2022, which has now been preponed to August 2022, the Chief Minister added.
As the airport site lies along border with Assam and some land has to be acquired from the side of the neighbouring State, Khandu stated that he would talk to his Assam counterpart in this regard. �As both Arunachal Pradesh and Assam will benefit from the airport, we will coordinate with the Assam Government for successful completion of the project,� he said.
Khandu, accompanied by Civil Aviation Minister Nakap Nalo, department officials and others, gathered �ground facts� from the works departments.
Officials of Power and PHE departments, PWD and district administration gave details of works being executed with respect to water supply, power, approach road, boundary wall, land acquisition, rehabilitation of displaced Chakma families, etc.
The officials assured that by March next year, all works would be completed except some.
�This project, the foundation of which was laid by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is our topmost priority. Please be informed that earlier the completion target was November, 2022, which has been changed to August 2022. Work accordingly,� Khandu said.
The Chief Minister also made it clear that funds would not be a constraint for completion of any works on time. However, Khandu expressed concern over the slow progress of the work on the runaway and the airport terminal.
The Chief Minister also visited the rehabilitation site of the 186 displaced Chakma families and assured them assistance, especially in resolving the drinking water issue, which is under progress. As a temporary solution, water is being supplied through borewells at the moment.
Khandu was informed that 156 families had to be shifted and rehabilitated from the project site and 30 others from the four-lane approach road.
