AAI begins work to enhance safety at Patna Airport

PATNA: Jayaprakash Narayan International airport may soon cast off its “one of the most critical airports in the country” tag. Airports Authority of India (AAI) is exploring all possibilities for the purpose.
The feasibility of AAI’s ambitious idea to tunnel-in the railway line adjacent to airport’s runway, which poses critical threat to safe landing of aircrafts here as there is no room for emergency and even minor errors could cause the plane to ram into a train, is being explored.
Of late, a comprehensive study to create additional runway space for JPNI airport, spread over 260.81 acres, with a runway length of 7,500 feet, has already begun.
The main purpose of the study, which will be completed within three months, is to suggest ways to remove obstacles from the aircrafts’ approach funnel. AAI has assigned the job to an infrastructure consultancy company, RITES Ltd, at a cost of Rs 25 lakh. Experts have expeditiously begun the survey at Phulwari Sharif railway station.
Due to obstacles like trees and a 184-feet Secretariat tower on the eastern side of the airport and railway premises on the northwestern side, aircrafts are not able to use full length of the runway. Therefore, removal of obstacles is critical for rendering the airport safe.
While landing from eastern side, planes manage to use approximately about 5,600 feet runway length (runway 25), while they are able to use about 5,500 feet runway during landing from western side (runway 07).
“Last week, a team of experts visited Phulwari Sharif railway station to collect data, drawings, track diagrams and existing yards,” said B K Gupta, GM (railway divisions), RITES Ltd.
As per the study, modifications to the existing railway line, diversion of main line or development of schematic yard could be done.
“The main focus of the study is to examine whether the existing line or the entire railway station can pass through a tunnel paving way for expansion of runway (07),” said a senior RITES official. The team will also explore if the entire Phulwari Sharif yard could be shifted to a suitable location.
“Tunnelling of the railway line will not only remove the obstacle in safe landing of planes but also create space for expansion if the railway cabin is also tunnelled in or shifted,” sources said.
“We are pursuing all possible ways to create space to make the airport safer and provide better airport management. After RITES submits its feasibility study, the matter will be actively considered,” said JPNI airport director Arvind Dubey.
According to RITES’s airport division officials, a final report covering the entire spectrum of issues including cost will be submitted to AAI as soon as the study is complete.