CM Pema Khandu Cabinet approves name of Greenfield Airport, other proposals

OUR CORRESPONDENT

ITANAGAR: The Arunachal Pradesh Cabinet on Thursday approved naming of the under construction Greenfield Airport at Hollongi, near here, as the Donyi Polo Airport, Itanagar. The State Cabinet headed by Chief Minister Pema Khandu also took several other important decisions.

The ambitious airport project, which is about 15 km from the State capital, is all set to be operational from August 15 this year, with the first flight test landing conducted by the Airports Authority of India on July 19 last.

The Centre accorded approval for setting up of the Greenfield Airport under the Capital Connectivity Scheme to build up fixed-wing air connectivity facility to the State capital, which was a long-cherished dream of the people.

"This name of the lone Airport in the capital city will symbolize the age-old tradition and rich cultural heritage of the tribal State and also will reflect the people's age-old indigenous reverence on the Sun (Donyi) and the Moon (Polo)," a Cabinet statement from the Chief Minister's Office said here.

At present, there is no airport in the vicinity of the State capital, the closest one being the Lilabari Airport in Assam's North Lakhimpur district, at a distance of 80 km from here.

Developed by the AAI at an estimated cost of Rs 645 crore, the Hollongi airport can accommodate 200 passengers during peak hours. It has eight check-in counters.

Once commissioned, the airport will be the first in the state with a runway of 2,300 metres, suitable for the landing and take-off of Boeing 747, one of the largest passenger aircraft. With an area of 4,100 sqm, the airport would be equipped with all modern facilities for passengers, officials said. The terminal will be an energy-efficient building with a rainwater-harvesting system and sustainable landscape, they said.

The Cabinet also approved various proposals of the Health and Family Welfare Department for upgradation of health infrastructure. The cabinet gave its nod for setting up 6-bed Intensive Care Unit facility (5 Intensive Care Unit (ICU) beds + 1 Paediatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) beds) on turnkey basis at each of six identified general and district hospitals - BPGH Pasighat and General Hospitals at Aalo, Bomdila, Tezu Khonsa and Ziro, at an estimated cost of Rs 606.15 lakh. These six hospitals would have a total of 36 ICU beds, out of which 30 would be adult ICU beds and 6 for children.

The Cabinet further approved setting up an 18-bed Paediatric Care Unit (including 4 PICU beds) at BPGH Pasighat on turnkey basis at an estimated cost of Rs 235.55 lakh.

Moreover, the Cabinet agreed on setting up 12-bed Paediatric Care Unit (including 2 PICU beds) on turnkey basis at eight district and general hospitals at Yingkiong, Seppa, Bomdilla, Tawang, Ziro, Aalo, Daporijo and Namsai at an estimated cost of Rs 1,070.8 lakh. These hospitals would have 96 beds in all, out of which 80 will be PCU beds and 16 PICU beds, the statement said.

"Once established, such Intensive Care Units and Paediatric Care Units will not only provide basic critical care but also serve as standards for achieving ICU and PCU care in district hospitals of the State. These facilities will cater to the present Covid-19 pandemic needs as well as continue to provide non-Covid patient care services in times to come," the statement said.

The work will be executed through HLL Life Care Limited, a Government of India enterprise.

The Cabinet also approved the 'Guidelines on Adoption of Anganwadi Centres by individuals, organizations, business houses & corporate bodies'. Adoption of an Anganwadi Centre by individuals, organizations, business houses & corporate bodies would afford an exceptional opportunity for all stakeholders to enrich the life of children and women by providing holistic support in terms of range and quality of services, the statement said.

Further, the Cabinet was briefed about the actionable points of the meeting of Chief Ministers with the Prime Minister held on July 24 this year in New Delhi. A detailed presentation was made informing on the status of saturation of 13 Centrally-sponsored schemes and it was resolved to work towards cent per cent saturation, the statement added.

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