* Air India mulling over a proposal for using Passighat ALG for civilian flights
By Kartik Lokhande
Walong/Shillong, May 20:
Apart
from the Advanced Landing Ground (ALG) at Walong in easternmost part of
the country, those at seven other locations in Arunachal Pradesh also
are being refurbished to facilitate military and civilian support in
areas bordering China and Myanmar. Of these seven ALGs, Passighat and
Along (or, Aalo) assume special significance.
The work on existing
ALG at Passighat is expected to be completed by the end of this year. So
far, 68 per cent of the work of the ALG has been completed. Since 1947,
Passighat ALG was in use for casualty evacuation and logistics, supply.
Along the banks of the river Siang, this ALG has the potential to serve
as ‘Air Stores Park’. Considering better availability of space, AN-32
can land comfortably and even the big transport aircraft like IL-76 and
C-130 may land here if required in future, said an official. However, at
present, there are no such plans for big transport aircraft, he added.
Interestingly,
considering civilian interest, Air India is mulling over a proposal to
cater to local populace by way of using the ALG runway for civilian
flights. However, the IAF feels that the ALG should be used for better
defined air-role of supplying the Army and civilians in far-flung areas.
“Dibrugarh-Silapather bridge is coming across river Brahmaputra. That
will take care of transport needs of the civilian population in nearby
areas, as road connectivity will improve,” said an official, wishing to
be anonymous.
Along or Aalo is a big fruit/vegetable market in the
eastern part of the North-East. The ALG here is located in civilian
areas. Rather, the ALG area divides a part of the town into two. The ALG
has ‘less than standard’ runway, and is not suitable for fixed-wing
aircraft.
Though the work of refurbishing of the ALG at Along is in
progress, no time-frame could be set for its completion as of now. For,
there are certain ‘issues’. There are certain problems in extension of
the run-way mainly because of the resistance from the local populace,
who have been using the existing ‘non-runway portion’ of the land as a
short-cut to town’s areas separated by runway.
Further, as the ALG
and the land thereof was with the State Government till recently,
several constructions have come up just adjacent to the compound wall of
the ALG area. Often, civilians bike through the land demarcated for
extension of the existing runway. The IAF has rightly taken up the issue
with the Aalo district administration, and hopes that it will be sorted
out positively soon.
Arunachal wants two more ALGs
Meanwhile,
the Government of Arunachal Pradesh has sought two more ALGs for
‘better use’. During the recent visit of Manohar Parrikar, Defence
Minister, a suggestion to this effect was made by Lt Gen (retd) Nirbhay
Sharma, Governor, and Nabam Tuki, Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh.
As
per the reports, the Governor and Chief Minister suggested setting up
of new ALGs at Anini in Dibang Valley district, and Koloriang in Kurung
Kumey. It may be mentioned here that Anini does not have any road
connectivity. As a result, it has to be air-maintained. According to
officials, apart from proposing these two new ALGs, the Governor and
Chief Minister also stressed upon making ‘optimum use’ of existing eight
ALGs that are being refurbished. Apart from military purpose and
transport of civilians and goods, it was suggested, these ALGs should be
used for carriage of construction materials to provide a boost to
infrastructure development in areas bordering Tibet (China) and Myanmar.
(20-05-15)
(Published in THE HITAVADA as all-edition front page exclusive report)
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