Baghel requests PM to upgrade Swami Vivekananda Airport of Raipur as an International Airport

Raipur, Apr 24:

Chief Minister Mr. Bhupesh Baghel has written a letter to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi, requesting to upgrade Swami Vivekananda Airport of Raipur into an International Airport. He has stated in the letter that despite the global recession due to pandemic, Chhattisgarh has been among the fastest growing States of the country despite global economic slowdown due to Covid-pandemic. In the industrial front, after showing an outstanding performance based on our rich mineral resources in iron and steel, cement, power and other core sectors, it is only poised for better projections. Further in this context, Mr. Baghel stated that only after a few years of the commissioning of new terminal of Swami Vivekanand Airport in Raipur in 2012, it was judged as the ‘Best Airport in the non-metro category’ twice. We strongly believe that the upgrading of Raipur airport to ‘International status and availability of Cargo Hub will provide further fillip to the growth potential of the State. It will allow us to better leverage the central location of the State, stated Chief Minister in the letter.
Mr. Baghel further mentioned in the letter that ‘Nava Raipur’ is being promoted as an ideal investment destination for Electronics, IT/ITES & Biotechnology industries. International airport is a very important component of this eco-system. Further, direct access for international entrepreneurs and investors through an international airport will help drive investments in the sunrise sectors of Chhattisgarh State, open up employment opportunities and lead to overall faster growth of the economy in Chhattisgarh. This would reduce pressure on people to migrate out of state in search of livelihood. Showing our preparedness for export, the State and the District Level Export Promotion Committees have already become functional in Chhattisgarh. State’s new Industrial Policy focuses on horticulture and minor forest produce-based food processing industries which have immense potential for export, and administrative machinery has also geared up to utilize this potential to the fullest. Moving a step further in this direction, Chhattisgarh Government has already provided over 344 acre of land to Airport Authority of India for expansion of the runway to international standards. The runway length has been extended to 7500ft. In principle approval of converting old terminal building into Cargo Hub has already been given. We wish to reiterate our earlier submission that the State Government is willing to bear the expenditure involved in conversion of the old terminal into a cargo handling facility. Besides, declaring Swami Vivekananda Airport as ‘international airport’ would be a fitting tribute to the great sage Swami Vivekananda. On the basis of above facts, I would once again request you to declare ‘Swami Vivekananda Airport’ as an International Airport and upgrade the old terminal of above airport as cargo hub, stated Chief Minister Mr. Baghel in the letter to Prime Minister Mr. Narendra Modi.