Jamshedpur: Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) President Manav Kedia has launched a fresh push for air connectivity, sending a detailed formal appeal to Union Civil Aviation Minister K. Rammohan Naidu, Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, and Tata Steel CEO T.V. Narendran. Kedia highlighted a glaring irony: despite being a century-old global steel hub and the financial capital of Jharkhand, Jamshedpur remains deprived of a commercial airport.
Connectivity Gap Hindering “Ease of Doing Business”
In his letter, Kedia argued that the lack of an airport forces entrepreneurs, students, and officials to undertake gruelling road journeys to Ranchi or Kolkata to catch flights. He termed this void a direct contradiction to the national vision of “Viksit Bharat” and “Ease of Doing Business,” noting that the industrial growth of the region is being stifled by poor logistics.
The Dhalbhumgarh Stalemate
Kedia reminded authorities of the Dhalbhumgarh Airport project, which saw its foundation stone laid in 2019 by then-CM Raghubar Das and Union Minister Jayant Sinha. Despite an MOU between the Airport Authority of India (AAI) and the State, the project has remained in limbo for six years due to environmental and forest clearance hurdles.
A Pragmatic Solution: Sonari Airport
As an immediate fix, the SCCI President suggested modifying Sonari Airport to accommodate regional flight services. He proposed:
- Small Aircraft Operations: Utilizing the current runway for small turboprop planes (like the HAL DO-228) for daily Jamshedpur-Kolkata routes.
- Runway Expansion: Collaborating with Tata Steel and Town Administration to explore runway extension possibilities to handle larger commercial carriers.
Economic and Social Impact
Beyond convenience, Kedia emphasized that regular flights would trigger a surge in government revenue, foster job creation, and improve road safety by reducing high-speed highway travel.
He concluded with an optimistic plea, urging both the State and Central governments to act decisively on this “legitimate demand” to provide much-needed relief to the citizens of this vital industrial city.
