MADC to Acquire 229 Hectares for Airport Development in Gadchiroli.

Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC), the state-owned company behind the development of Mihan-SEZ, will acquire 229 hectares of land to build a new airport in Gadchiroli, a district heavily affected by Maoist activities. A government resolution (GR) issued on Friday designates MADC as the agency responsible for the land acquisition, which will include both private and government holdings across four villages: Murkhada, Pulkhal, Kanori, and Mudjha.

The airport project aims to improve the standard of living for the predominantly tribal population of Gadchiroli and integrate the district into the broader development framework of the state, according to the GR.

Originally, the plan for the airport was driven by strategic needs, specifically to facilitate troop movement during anti-Maoist operations. While helicopters are currently deployed, the lack of night operations has limited effectiveness. The airport, with provisions for fixed-wing aircraft, would enhance preparedness in the region, a source involved in the project explained.

However, the district’s growing industrial activity has shifted the focus towards commercial air connectivity. With a surge in mining projects and anticipated investment in the sector, there is now a significant demand for air links to major cities like Mumbai and Delhi.

The initial design for the airport includes a runway of 2,500 to 2,800 meters, capable of accommodating wide-bodied aircraft. While final plans are still under review, sources indicated that if the land acquisition proceeds as scheduled, the airport could be operational within four to five years.

MADC currently oversees airports in Amravati, Solapur, Karad, Pune, and Shirdi, in addition to Nagpur, where it has entered into a concessionaire agreement with GMR for the brownfield expansion of the airport. GMR will take over operations previously managed by Mihan India Limited (MIL), a joint venture between MADC and Airports Authority of India (AAI).

ET