A team of Airport Authority of India and Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL) administration accompanied by Bokaro MLA, Biranchi Narayan today carried out a joint inspection of Bokaro Airport and expressed hope that the airport is likely to be functional for flight operation anytime between August 15 to October 2 this year.

Talking to media at the sidelines of the inspection, Narayan said, “All facilities including runway, arrival gate and path, departure gate and path, fire station are ready and even the Air Traffic Control van has arrived.”

“The process for taking a license from Directorate General Civil Aviation (DGCA) has also been initiated and it is likely to be completed by Friday. After the completion of the application process a team of DGCA will carry out the inspection and the team after the inspection will provide a checklist of any deficiency which will be rectified accordingly,” Narayan further said.

“All preparations on the part of AAI and Bokaro Steel Limited (BSL) administration has already been completed and only some deficiency on the part of state administration lies,” said Narayan and added that around 1671 trees lying near the airport are to be shifted by the state government.

“Since all the trees are forest trees and are of not much significance, the BSL administration has sought permission of the state forest department for cutting these trees,'' said Narayan, adding that it is now up to the forest department to take a decision in this regard.

“A team of the aviation department of BSL and Airport Authority of India (AAI) will soon visit Ranchi and hold a meeting with the forest department officials,” said Narayan.

“We would also request the Bokaro district administration to initiate steps for removal of the slaughterhouse situated near the airport as the DGCA team may reject license application request as per laid norms which calls for removal of all slaughterhouses within the 2 km radius of the airport,” further said Narayan.

Priyanka Kumari, head of the aviation department of aviation of BSL said, “We have completed almost all the preparations and only some work along the approach road remains.”