Visakhapatnam :
The Indian Navy has finally got a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the AP government to set up a diversionary airfield at Badangi near Bobbili in Vizianagaram that houses a World War II airstrip, Eastern Naval Command (ENC) chief vice Admiral Satish Soni said here on Wednesday.
The historic Badangi airstrip, which was used by the Royal Air Force during the Second World War to move its troops across the region, will now house the Indian Navy’s fighter aircraft fleet and will also be used for training pilots on the new aircraft being acquired by the Navy. Sources said the cost of developing a naval fighter plane base at Badangi might cost around Rs 200 crore to Rs 300 crore.
Speaking to media persons onboard INS Shivalik on Wednesday on the eve of Navy Day, the ENC chief said that following the state government’s approval, the proposal for acquisition of Badangi airstrip has now been sent to the Naval Headquarters at New Delhi.
Pointing out that the Navy wants the project to be put on fast track, he said the Navy would forward the proposal to the defence ministry and from there it would go to the ministry of finance. “With the induction of advanced aircraft like P8I and MIG 29K, pilots need more intensive training, which is why Badangi has been identified as the base for fighter aircraft and pilot training,” he said.
The airstrip, constructed during World War II by Mackenzie Company over 221 acres, was one of the biggest RAF bases in British India and had a control tower, separate underground armament depot and many underground bunkers, besides staff quarters and a natural pond for fire fighting. All those structures were demolished except the runway. In those days, the RAF squadron at Badangi housed supermarine Spitfire fighters, Hawker Hurricane fighters, Avro Lancaster Bombers, B-57 Canberra reconnaissance and transport aircraft. After it was shut down in 1946 after the war, Food Corporation of India used it for some time to store paddy and wheat.
Today a chunk of the 221 acres is encroached by farmers, the Indian Navy needs a total of around 1,000 acres to set up its base, Soni said, pointing out that they may go for a 4,000-4,500 ft runway to cater to their needs. He said some kind of compensation would be worked out for the farmers currently cultivating nuts, paddy, and sugarcane at the airstrip site.
On the Naval Alternate Operations Base (NAOB) at Rambilli in Visakhapatnam district, the ENC chief said it would be completed in 2018 with some works already having started and others in progress. Talking about losses suffered by ENC due to Cyclone Hudhud, Soni said Rs 200 crore had been sanctioned for restoration works, which would be taken up one by one.
The ENC chief said the International Fleet Review (IFR) to be conducted from February 3 to 9, 2016, in Vizag would see 100 ships and delegates of 79 navies of various countries participate and would be reviewed by the Indian President.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / December 04th, 2014