PM to lay foundation-stone of Arunachal Pradesh airport on Saturday
Prime Minister Narendra Modi will inaugurate several projects and lay foundation of many vital schemes in Arunachal Pradesh during his visit to the north-eastern state on Saturday, officials said today. Modi is scheduled to lay the foundation stone of a green field Airport at Hollongi near Itanagar (Arunachal Pradesh capital). The ambitious airport project in the state has been pending for several years.
Arunachal Pradesh is the only state without a full-fledged airport
The hold-up was due to controversies over site selection. Arunachal Pradesh is the only state in the country without a full-fledged airport. Initially, Karsingsa was selected as the site for the airport but owing to technicalities, the Director General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) and the Airports Authority of India (AAI) had asked the state government to find some other site.
PM to also inaugurate 110MW hydro electric project, Doordarshan channel
On the request of the state government, a central joint inspection committee visited Itanagar to study the feasibility of the site during 2017 and recommended Hollongi. The prime minister will also inaugurate a retrofitted airport at Tezu in Lohit district besides a 110 MW hydro electric project, Arun Prabha channel of Doordarshan and 50 health and wellness centres in the state.
Also in the intinerary: Sela Tunnel, Film and Television Institute
Modi will also lay the foundation stone of a Film and Television Institute at Jote, near Itanagar and seven electric sub stations under Comprehensive Scheme, officials said. The institute will cover an area of 50 acres. He would lay the foundation stone of Sela Tunnel and its approach road in Tawang district besides declaration of 100% household electrification in the state under Saubhagya Scheme.
Stone laying ceremony to be held in Indira Gandhi Park
All the inauguration and foundation stone laying ceremony would be held from Indira Gandhi (IG) Park in Itanagar. From Arunachal Pradesh, Modi is scheduled to visit Assam and Tripura. Elaborate security arrangements have been made in view of the PM's visit to the state capital.
Security beefed up, visitors being thoroughly checked, paramilitary forces deployed
Large contingents of central paramilitary forces besides state police have spread a dragnet across the state capital since Wednesday and thorough checking of visitors is going on to prevent entry of unwanted elements, DGP S B K Singh said. Chief Minister Pema Khandu accompanied by Deputy Chief Minister Chowna Mein on Wednesday took stock of the arrangements at IG Park, the officials added.
