Buried in the middle of yesterday's TOI was this report: "Security boost for Andamans: China, pirates prompt push for military build-up in Islands". For good measure the prospect of a "huge gas find" is tagged on at the end. Among the measures being considered for the region's unique tri-services command are two new airstrips (to augment the existing two runways and two airstrips) and the location of a fighter squadron.
Meanwhile, just a few days ago there was this report about the upgrading of the Navy-run (like Dabolim) civil enclave at Vizag. http://www.thehindu.com/2007/03/22/stories/2007032218920500.htm <The naval headquarters in New Delhi will have the final say on when to commission the Norwegian Instrument landing system (ILS) and the 10,000 feet new runway in the Visakhapatnam airport after the technical team of the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) calibrates the ILS during March 23-26. As recurring problem of flight cancellations due to smog recently fresh in their mind, Vizagites can expect some relief during bad weather conditions and winter season as the ILS would help in landing/take-off of flights in low visibility. > This project is said to cost nearly Rs 200 crores. The funny thing is that the airport is perennially affected by floods or fog and yet the powers that be have seen fit to upgrade it on a crash basis at considerable cost. So what's going on in the eastern region? Meanwhile, dithering over the 9 acres at Dabolim over here continues. While the air of civil aviation is thick with talk of congestion surcharges, peak hour airport pricing, night flights and so on, the long pending upgrade of Dabolim is going at snail's pace. From the looks of things, the hand over of the 9 acres, just to 'start' the upgrade, may not actually materialise till "next year". You know, elections, monsoons, IFFI etc etc. The real work will then follow, maybe for some years. As someone said, in the long run we are goners (or should I say 'goaners'!)
