4-Mar-2017: Centre builds a civilian airport and two major bridges across Lohit river in Arunachal
Arunachal Pradesh to acquire all-weather connectivity after the construction of new bridges across the Lohit river and the new commercial airport in Tezu. It will ease transport to several high-altitude districts near the India-China border. Airport will be equipped with night-landing facility.
The improvements in connectivity is significant in view of the statements by Beijing’s officials asserting China’s territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh.
Apart from the airport, the two mega-bridges are built over the Lohit river to move men and material to the eastern sector of the India-China border. The bridges at the Dhola-Sadiya Ghat and at Digaru Ghat are built by the Navayuga Engineering Company Ltd (NECL).
The bridge at Sadiya, at 9.15 km, will be the longest bridge in India once it is formally inaugurated. However, the people at Tezu say it is the smaller bridge of 2.1 km built at the Digaru Ghat that has reduced the distance between Arunachal Pradesh and Assam, bringing the State closer to the rest of India.
In the absence of the bridges, the drive from Guwahati will be interrupted by the Lohit, which could be crossed only by boat. The other bridge near the pilgrimage site of Parashuram Kund is often difficult to reach.
Vehicular traffic across the river required a risky boat ride carrying large and small vehicles to Tezu town. The route to Tezu is critical from a strategic point of view as the Himalayan range, which became famous as ‘the hump’ during World War II, can be accessed only through the mountain roads that begin at Tezu.
Tezu is the nearest town to Walong, where a legendary battle between Indian and Chinese soldiers took place between 16 October to 16 November 1962.
The new bridges will also provide the necessary support for the strategic preparedness for the forces in the mountains, which will be critical for India where the new Mountain Strike Corps is likely to focus.
The planned high altitude airfields in the Himalayan range would also be helped by the enhanced connectivity of Tezu.
28-Feb-2017: India’s first Integrated Heliport inaugurated
The First Integrated Heliport was dedicated to the Nation by Ministry of Civil Aviation in association with Pawan Hans at Rohini Heliport, Delhi. Helicopter services in India are still at a nascent stage. This facility will keep the cost under control as MRO facility has been incorporated. This would also help in job creation.
Heliport will also be useful in providing medical emergency, public safety and enhancing tourism. Helicopter services could become economically viable if the prevailing 25% tax on ATF is reduced.
National Aviation Policy advises to have four heliports, one in each region and Rohini’s heliport is the first step. Helicopter operations could be shifted from I.G.I to Rohini.
The Rohini heliport has been completed in almost two years at a cost of nearly 100 crores. This Heliport will provide all helicopter operational facilities and will decongest busy Indira Gandhi International Airport, and also promote Regional Air connectivity through helicopters in the northern part of the country for regular passenger services, heli services, landing & parking of helicopters, Helicopters Maintenance Services (MRO), disaster management, helicopter emergency medical services (HeMS), law & order surveillance. The Heliport consists of a terminal building having capacity of 150 passengers, 4 hangers with parking capacities for 16 helicopters and 9 parking bays.
Pawan Hans has also prepared a roadmap to connect all the major destination from this Heliport such as Ex-Delhi to Shimla, Haridwar, Dehradun Mathura, Agra, Meerut and Industrial Hubs such as Manesar, Bahadurgarh etc. They will provide air connectivity between Delhi and neighbouring cities from Rohini Heliport. Regional connectivity will be fully achieved when we are able to connect at least all capital cities with district headquarters by air, which can be made possible only by combination of smaller planes and helicopters for seamless connectivity.
PHL is working on its business diversification and has devised a Strategic Plan - 2020 according to which company will be diversifying into small fixed wing and seaplane operations; Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) business and development of helipads and Heliports. It is working to develop four “heli-hubs” in line with the concept lines of the “Airport-Hubs” and Rohini is the First step into this series. These heli-hubs will be a one-point solution for the helicopter business and will act as a heliport for public passenger services, MRO facility for helicopter maintenance and also as a skill development centre for training of pilots, AMEs and technicians
4-Mar-2017: Punjab, J&K sign an agreement on Shahpur Kandi Dam Project.
In a major step today towards utilization of India’s rights on Eastern rivers of Indus basin, States of J&K and Punjab reached an agreement to resume works on Shahpur Kandi Dam project in Punjab/ J&K.
The project was being built with an estimated cost of Rs. 2285.81 crore (April, 2008 price level) and is included in the Scheme of National Projects by Government of India. Under the scheme, MoWR, RD&GR provides central assistance @ 90% of the balance cost of works component of irrigation and water supply.
The construction of Shahpur Kandi project was taken up in May 1999 but later halted in 2014 due to dispute between Punjab and J&K. The Ministry of WR,RD&GR had been making all out efforts to resolve the issues and resume construction which resulted in yesterday’s agreement.
The design of the project shall be as already agreed by both the states while concurrently model studies will be done to ensure that the mandated share of 1150 cusecs of water is available to the State of J&K, which will be binding on both the States.
The project will continue to be implemented by the Government of Punjab. However, there will be a tripartite team headed by Member, CWC and consisting of Chief Engineers of two States to monitor the project as and when required but at least once in three months to ensure that the construction is as per the agreement.
The balance costs on account of compensation for land acquisition in respect of Thein Dam, as per the agreement would be paid for by the Government of Punjab promptly. In addition, jobs to the oustees would be given by the State Government of Punjab as per the agreed R&R policy of both the State Governments.
The Government of Punjab would be making available to the Govt. of J&K 20% share in the total power generated at the Thein Dam at the mutually agreed rate of Rs. 3.50 per unit immediately, subject to the confirmation of the rates by the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission.
Both the States agreed that other issues will be referred to Arbitration mechanism provided in the agreement signed between two states of 1979 without affecting the progress of work. It was unanimously agreed that the work on the Shahpur Kandi Dam Project would resume as soon both the State Governments formally approve the agreed decisions.
The 55.5 high Shahpur Kandi dam, located in Gurdaspur district of Punjab, will help in providing irrigation facility to 5000 hectares of land in Punjab and 32173 hectares in J&K besides generation of 206 MW power.