Jamshedpur’s Dhalbhumgarh Airport project awaits final forest clearance

Jharkhand govt says work will gather pace after MoEFCC approves land diversion proposal

Jamshedpur, July 6: The proposed Dhalbhumgarh Airport project (Jamshedpur) in East Singhbhum is under continuous monitoring by the Jharkhand government, and necessary steps are being taken to move the project forward. However, the project is awaiting approval for land diversion from the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Government of India, before it can enter the next phase of development.

The update was shared in an official communication issued by the Under Secretary to the Government of Jharkhand in response to an email seeking information about the project. The letter stated that a high-level review meeting on the Dhalbhumgarh Airport Development Project was held on June 9, 2026, under the chairmanship of the Additional Chief Secretary, Cabinet Secretariat and Monitoring Department (Civil Aviation Division), Jharkhand.

During the meeting, officials reviewed the status of 19 points related to forest clearance. Following the review, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests, who is also the Nodal-cum-Executive Director for the project, directed the Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Jamshedpur, to submit updated responses on all pending issues after conducting a detailed examination of the required reports.

The government has also instructed the consultant appointed for the airport project to coordinate with all concerned departments and offices, prepare a consolidated report, and upload it on the PARIVESH Portal at the earliest. The portal is used by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change for processing proposals related to environmental, forest and wildlife clearances.

According to the official communication, the Dhalbhumgarh Airport project will receive real momentum only after the Ministry grants approval for the forest land diversion proposal. Once the clearance is obtained, the state government is expected to accelerate the implementation of the long-awaited airport project, which is considered important for improving air connectivity in East Singhbhum and promoting regional economic growth.