Pantnagar airport to get ready for Boeing, Airbus

To make runway 7,000 ft long.

The Uttarakhand government on Tuesday said the Pantnagar airport in the Kumoan region would be expanded further for the operation of Boeing and Airbus aircraft in view of heavy industrialisation and tourism potential in the area.

This follows completion of work on the new runway, which is now 4,500-feet long. The Airports Authority of India carried out the modernisation work at a cost of Rs 75 crore.

The town came into prominence last week with the launch of Tata Motors’ Nano, the world’s cheapest car. Companies like Nestle and Bajaj Auoto already have operations here.

“The first phase of the work has been completed and now under the second phase, the Pantnagar airstrip would be expanded to 7,000 feet,” said a top official. The government has already acquired the land for the purpose.

Meanwhile, Kingfisher Airlines has postponed its move to start a regular flight to Pantnaagar in view of some pending repair work at the airport. The Kingfisher flight, which was scheduled to operate last Saturday, would now fly in another 15 to 30 days, the official said.