Mizoram's Lengpui Airport to be upgraded

Funds sanctioned by the North Eastern Council (NEC) will be utilised to upgrade Lengpui airport near Aizawl. The NEC is a funding agency of the Centre, the Planning Commission and the civil aviation ministry. Lengpui is the lone airport in Mizoram. It was set up by the state government in the mid-nineties at a cost of Rs 393 crore. A source said the project will cost Rs 6.58 crore. The airport’s fire station will be upgraded with a slew of state-of-the-art gadgets like pumps, water sprinklers and high ladders, including snorkels. The project includes constructing perimeter roads around the airport, treatment as well as strengthening of the roof of the airport building’s passenger terminal to ward off possible threats against torrential showers and a waiting shed outside the terminal building. Wing Cdr (retd) Joe Lalhmingliana, officer on special duty in the state civil aviation department, said the NEC plans to introduce a few more facilities which will be funded by central grants.

The new facilities include installing the instrument landing system (ILS) and commissioning a couple of modern fire-tenders from the Czech Republic. The ILS will help prevent frequent cancellation of flights during the monsoon and winter. The fire tenders (called fire crush tender) will cost Rs 2.5 crore. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) under the civil aviation department has decided to commission a digital current weather information system, which will detect any meteorological aberration in the sky. The new system will replace an old weather evaluation device and visual flight rules now used at Lengpui airport. Indian and Deccan Airlines operate daily flights between Calcutta and Aizawl from Lengpui. Swirling smoke emitted by the burning of jhum fields in the surrounding high hills is a cause of concern for the airport. According to an official spokesman for the Mizoram government, the state government is considering a proposal to relocate these seasonal farmers who follow the slash and burn method of farming before sowing seeds for the next harvest.

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