Jamshedpur: Expansion plans of the Jamshedpur Airport in Sonari have been initiated. A team of experts has taken charge, and the work to extend its boundary has been expedited. The road leading from the CH Area to Sonari is likely to be diverted to allow the airport to expand its boundaries towards Sonari. The boundary towards Kadma has already been constructed, from where the airport will grow in size. The road closure and diversion are in the final stages.
Passing through Kadma Ulian Nirmal Mahato Ground, the road will now be diverted towards the LIC Colony on the other side. Work has also begun on the Sonari side, marking has been completed, and boundary work is also underway. Measurements have also been completed, sources said.
The authorities have decided that only the area surrounding the runway will be expanded for safety reasons, and no buildings will be damaged. The road will be diverted, and some areas will be taken inside the airport. According to the plan, the runway length has been kept within the DGCA’s minimum standards. The road from Sonari to Circuit House, Bistupur, will not be closed, but will be given a very slight curve to maintain smooth traffic flow. The church has been completely excluded from the expansion area.
The Sonari Airport was established in 1940, and the number of flights operating from here is expected to increase in the future. According to DGCA regulations, new changes are underway. The airport, which is now spread over approximately 25 acres, is expected to expand to 35 acres. However, the exact size of the expanded airport has not been officially revealed.
With this expansion, new air services may be launched. Currently, One India Air operates flights from here, connecting passengers to Bhubaneswar and Kolkata. Many more services may be launched in the future. Earlier too several attempts had been made to establish air services from the Steel City. Airlines like Kingfisher Airlines and MDLR launched from here, but these flights were intermittently discontinued.
In 2018, the Indian government took over the airport under the UDAN scheme, but this too proved ineffective. Subsequently, India One Air started operating flights between Bhubaneswar and Kolkata from January 31, 2023. Sonari Airport also offers pilot training and aeronautical engineering courses.
The air traffic at Sonari Airport is considered very busy. Flights are being operated under the supervision of the Air Traffic Controller (ATC) stationed here. Approximately 550 aircraft enter and exit Sonari Airport’s ATC radar throughout the day. Sonari Airport lies on an international air route, making it an important junction for air traffic.
