Dj Venkatesh
Diglipur, Nov 06: The Lt. Governor, A&N Islands, Admiral Mr. DK Joshi, PVSM, AVSM, YSM, NM, VSM (Retd) A & N islands visited Diglipur on 06 November. After his arrival at Naval Air Station Shibpur the Officer in charge Lt Commander Bhoopeshwar welcomed the Lt Governor. LG inspected the Airstrip and discussed about the extension of the airstrip. NAS Shibpur was established in 2001 as a Forward Operating Air Base (FOAB) for enhanced surveillance in North Andaman. The length of the runway is being extended to 12,000 ft and will enable day and night operations. After acquisition of about 100 hectares of land. This will enable the operation of wide-bodied civil and defence flights.
Present runway length is 1000 meters, where only few defence aircraft can land. On acquisition of forest land of 100 hectares north of the strip, the runway length will be extended to 3000 meters for operation of wide-bodied defence and civil flights Indian authorities will need to cut 20,018 trees for this expansion plan. Presently, the Indian Navy owns 67.54 hectares at its existing air station. “No cost-benefit analysis of the project has been provided, however, it has been stated that the extension of runway will not only consolidate the security and surveillance over Northern Group of Islands but will also assist in rapid developments of civil infrastructure which will immensely benefit the local population,” For the land deforestation the administration is providing 100 hectares land at Parangara. The Deputy Commissioner N & M Andaman Mr. Arava Gopi Krishna today accompanied the Lt Governor to Port Blair. Lt Governor while speaking to PRI members at Diglipur assured that the land acquisition problems will be sorted out soon .
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