Jamshedpur, August 18: The proposal to acquire 99.256 hectares of forest land for the construction of Dalbhumgarh Airport remains pending with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC). This was confirmed by Jharkhand’s Public Information Officer in response to an RTI filed by Jamshedpur resident Shashank Shekhar, who sought clarity on the prolonged delay.
Correspondence between the Airports Authority of India (AAI) and the Jharkhand government over the project has been ongoing since July 2019. However, the plan was earlier cancelled after the Forest Department refused to issue a No Objection Certificate, citing the presence of an elephant corridor in the area.
Despite setbacks, Jamshedpur MP Bidyut Baran Mahato has continued to press for the project before the Union Civil Aviation Minister and the Prime Minister. Nearly eight months ago, the MoEFCC sent a letter to the state government, seeking clarifications on over a dozen points.
Officials say the delay in forest clearance has impacted the government’s Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN), hindering aviation expansion in Jharkhand.
According to official sources, the proposal aims to revive and expand the former World War II airstrip in Dalbhumgarh, East Singhbhum. Once approved, the project will bring Jamshedpur and adjoining industrial belts under improved regional air connectivity. “The airport is vital for boosting economic activity in the Kolhan region and providing faster connectivity for industries and citizens alike,” an aviation department official said.
Officials believe that once these projects are operational, Jharkhand will witness a major boost in regional connectivity, helping industries, trade, tourism, and local employment. “Dalbhumgarh Airport has been a long-pending demand. Its development will transform the connectivity landscape of Jharkhand,” said a senior district official from East Singhbhum.
The Dalbhumgarh project comes under the Regional Connectivity Scheme (RCS-UDAN), launched to make air travel affordable and accessible to smaller towns. Similar efforts are underway for Bokaro Airport, where Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL) and Airports Authority of India (AAI) have already signed necessary agreements for operational readiness, and for Dumka Airport, where the state government and AAI have initiated steps for licensing.
Additionally, the government is considering the recommendations made by AAI in 2017 for Chiyanki airstrip, with necessary processes for its development in progress.
