Dhalbhumgarh Airport construction delayed due to pending land handover from Jharkhand government

AAI to appoint consultants for Dhalbhumgarh Airport project only after receiving encumbrance-free land

The construction of the much-awaited Dhalbhumgarh Airport in Jharkhand has been delayed due to the pending handover of encumbrance-free land from the state government to the Airports Authority of India (AAI), as per a recent grievance reply from the AAI to Shashank Shekhar Swain, a road, transport, and infrastructure enthusiast.

JAMSHEDPUR – In response to a grievance raised by Shri Shashank Shekhar Swain regarding the delay in the construction of Dhalbhumgarh Airport, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) has clarified that the proposed airport site spans approximately 96 hectares of forest land.

The AAI has stated that the process of obtaining environmental clearance for the airport project will be initiated only after receiving the forest and wildlife clearance from the government of Jharkhand.

Currently, the proposal for the clearance is pending with the state government, and the AAI is awaiting the handover of the encumbrance-free land to proceed with the project.

Once the land is transferred to the AAI by the Jharkhand government, the authority will begin the process of appointing an architectural and engineering consultant to oversee the airport’s construction.

The grievance reply from the AAI has shed light on the reasons behind the prolonged delay in the construction of Dhalbhumgarh Airport, which has been a long-standing demand of the people of Jamshedpur and its surrounding areas.

The total land requirement for the proposed airport is approximately 240 acres, and the AAI has emphasized the need for the state government to expedite the process of providing the necessary clearances and handing over the land to facilitate the project’s commencement.

The AAI’s response has made it evident that the ball is now in the court of the Jharkhand government, and the timely handover of the encumbrance-free land will be crucial in determining the future progress of the Dhalbhumgarh Airport project.

Airport Authority of India (AAI) approached the Chief Wildlife Warden of Jharkhand Forest Department to obtain their consent for further consideration of Environmental Clearance (EC) post rejection of EC by the Ministry of Environment, Forest & Climate Change, GoI. PCCF, Forest Department (Chief Wildlife Warden) granted their support to the extent of the Proposal.

Shashank Shekhar Swain’s efforts to seek clarity on the airport’s status have helped bring attention to the matter, underlining the importance of collaboration between the state government and the AAI in accelerating the development of this vital infrastructure project for the region.