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NEW AIrPOrT TErMINAL AT LEH LIKELY TO bECOME by the Civil Aviation Minister to consider reducing VAT on Aviation
OPErATIONAL bY DECEMbEr 2022, SAYS CIVIL Turbine Fuel (ATF) in a bid to encourage more flight services to
AVIATION MINISTEr operate to the uT- Ladakh, stressing that it will become a booster
union Minister of Civil Aviation Jyotiraditya Scindia recently for the tourism industry of Ladakh. The Lieutenant Governor of inFraStrUctUre
announced that the new airport terminal in the district of Ladakh requested the Civil Aviation Minister for intervention
Leh, Ladakh, is likely to become operational by the month of in regulating winter airfares, support in air ambulances’
December next year. This was conveyed by the Civil Aviation operationalisation as well as exploring the possibility of night flight
union Minister to Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh R K Mathur during services to Leh.
a recent virtual meeting. The meeting was held to discuss the Meanwhile, Scindia said that he is delighted to have been
progress of ongoing as well as new civil aviation projects for introduced to the concept model of the soon-to-become Asia’s
better air connectivity in the region. The new airport terminal at first Hybrid flying car, developed by VInATA AeroMobility team. The
Leh, in the union Territory of Ladakh may become operational by union Minister was quoted by AnI saying that once this takes off,
December 2022, the Civil Aviation Minister was quoted saying in flying cars would be utilized for transporting cargo and people,
a PTI report. as well as for offering medical emergency facilities.
According to the report, Scindia also agreed to a civil
enclosure’s development at Thoise Airport, which is
considered the air lifeline to the world’s highest as
well as coldest battlefield, by the AAI once land for
the project is made available. The minister noted that
a team will visit the union Territory of Ladakh shortly to
technically evaluate locations for additional airstrips in
Leh district. The union Minister, as an interim solution,
has agreed to look at the possibility of operationalising
commercial flight services with smaller jet planes to
Kargil.
The Lieutenant Governor of Ladakh was requested

DEVELOPMENT PLAN (2021-41): PUNE ASPIrES TO bE urban growth centres are: Chakan, Alandi, Wagholi, Loni-Kalbhor,
INDIA’S TOP CITY Khadakwasla, Pirangut, Hinjavadi, Talegaon, Malavali, Khed-
The Pune Metropolitan Region (PMR) is getting ready for a major Rajgurunagar, Shikrapur, uruli-kanchan, Saswad, Khed, narsapur,
upgrade. If the proposed `73,000-crore draft development plan Ranjangaon, Yavad Kedgaon, comprising 233 villages in all. The
(DP) for PMR gets approved and implemented, it could make a rural growth centres would include Pabal, nhavaa, Rahu, Kikavi,
significant impact on the way its residents live and work. Sangarun, Paud, Kale and Kadus.
The draft DP the Pune Metropolitan Region Development Authority The DP would ensure phase-wise development of the region. The
(PMRDA) has released is intended to guide the development of first of the projects would be the `6,124-crore PMRDA Metro link,
PMR over the next 20 years, with the goal of making it India’s on which a Tata-Siemens JV is all set to commence work under
most liveable habitat and a premium international investment PPP mode.
destination. The draft plan aims to increase liveability and ensure An international exhibition centre would be the next project.
sustainable development along with environmental resilience. Mahalunge-Maan would be the first model town planning project
Pointing at the haphazard development of the region in recent of the PMRDA, being themed as a high-tech city spread across
years, Diwase says the DP calls for integrated and consolidated 250 acres. Land acquisition for the purpose is in progress.
growth, driven by the five goals of convenient (mobility), prudent The draft plan provides for 26 town planning schemes, 10 metro
(economic and employment growth), resilient (environment), rail routes, two ring roads (123 km and 173 km), 59 public housing
efficient (infrastructure) and self-sufficient (housing and amenities). projects, 152.19-km Pune-nashik semi high-speed rail, 89.65-km
The PMRDA region is now the third largest metropolitan region in crescent railway, 12 logistics hubs, and nine truck terminals,
the country with an area of 6,914.26 sq. km. among other things.
The population under PMRDA’s jurisdiction is estimated to go up PMRDA has leveraged GIS-based technology to prepare the
to 53.70 lakh by 2041. The DP envisions creating self-sufficient development plan.
towns, each with a unique economic role, that complement the PMRDA has invited citizens to respond with suggestions and
Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) and the Pimpri Chinchwad objections to the DP – around 60,000 of these had been
Municipal Corporation (PCMC). It suggests consolidating urban received till September 16 though quite a few may be duplicate
development within a 5-10 km radius of PMC, PCMC limits and or common objections, Diwase says.
within 5 km along the regional transport corridors. While it will go for final approval of the DP once this exercise is over,
There would be 18 urban growth centres connected with each land acquisition, reservation and zoning of land as envisaged
other and the regional nuclei (PMC and PCMC) through a mass in the plan are expected to pose challenges, especially as
transit system. landowners and farmers have started campaigning against the
There would also be eight rural growth centres. The proposed move.

OCTObEr 2021|COnSTRuCTIOn OPPORTunITIES 53