The coming of the new airport will actually give a boost Government of India's much talked about 'Make in India' initiatives and manufacturing works and will raise people's standard of living in the region.
New Delhi: Rajkot – the fourth largest city of Gujarat – after Ahmedabad, Surat and Vadodara is all set to get its second and new Greenfield Airfield in the Hirasar area by August-September this year.
Officials said that major preliminary works are over, and it will be operational by September "subject to DGCA clearance".
The coming of the new airport will actually give a boost Government of India's much talked about 'Make in India' initiatives and manufacturing works as Rajkot is not only the commercial hub of the cash-rich Saurashtra region, it is also the nerve centre of manufacturing industries like watch parts, silk embroideries and a vast jewellery market.
"The city of Rajkot effectively contributes to the national economy through its small scale and heavy industries, and the present airstrip is incapable of serving aircrafts larger than Airbus 320 family and Boeing 737-800," Arun Mahesh Babu, Collector, Rajkot, told 'Organiser'.
Overall, the airport will raise people's standard of living in the region. "The availability of the new airport will provide a thrust to the GDP of the local areas," Babu said.
Explaining the area's manufacturing and economic potential, officials say the Saurashtra region is also famous for automotive parts, kitchen knives, diesel engines, etc. The rich ceramic industry of Morbi and other industries in the adjoining Jamnagar area also depends on Rajkot for air connectivity.
He said that the new airport would turn out to be "the transportation hub for the entire state of Gujarat" for people travelling abroad.
He said the runway length is planned for 3040 km for serving B777-300ER/B747-4000 type of aircraft, and the area of Apron is 50,800 sq. m.
Officials further said the new airport would be capable of parking 14 numbers of aircraft (4 in contact and 10 in remote) at a time.
"With a total build-up area of 23,000 sq m, the terminal building of this new Airport will be capable of handling 1280 passengers during peak hours," a senior official said, adding the building will have 4 passenger boarding bridges, 3 conveyer belts and 20 check-in counters.
