In a major boost to regional aviation infrastructure, the Indian Army has formally transferred 290.8 acres of land to the district administration for the expansion of Bilasa Devi Chakrabhatha Airport, five years after air services began at the facility. With this transfer, the airport now has a total of 646.8 acres of land, making it eligible for an upgrade to the 4C category.
The land transfer process was completed at the district headquarters, where senior Army officials, including Colonel A. Majumdar, Colonel Dinesh Pattabhi, Lieutenant Colonel Neeraj Singh, and Defence Estate Officer Mohammad Shad Alam from Jabalpur, signed ownership documents with Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agrawal. Airport Director N. Viren Singh, ADM Jyoti Patel, and SDM Akanksha Tripathi were also present during the formal handover.
Runway Expansion and Improved Connectivity
The additional land removes key technical obstacles that had delayed runway expansion. Once upgraded to the 4C category, the airport will be capable of handling larger aircraft and connecting Bilaspur directly with major metropolitan cities, significantly improving regional connectivity and economic development prospects.
Background of Land Transfer
The land transfer initiative gained momentum after the proposed Army cantonment plan for the area was cancelled. The state government then pushed for the return of the land, while delays caused by election-related restrictions and boundary demarcation issues were recently resolved through coordinated efforts between the defence department and local administration.
Earlier, the central government had returned ₹90 crore sent by the state government, after which a revised demand of ₹70 crore based on current market rates was finalized. Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, Union Minister of State Tokhan Sahu, and members of the Air Connectivity Struggle Committee played an important role in resolving the issue through discussions in New Delhi.
Major Development Plans
Currently, the airport runway is only 1,498 meters long, which allows operations of 72-seater ATR aircraft. Authorities now plan to extend the runway to 2,800 meters to accommodate larger aircraft, with a proposal of ₹80 crore being sent to the government.
The Air Traffic Control (ATC) facility is also operating from a temporary setup. A permanent 22-meter-high ATC tower will be constructed at an estimated cost of ₹22 crore to enhance operational efficiency and safety.
₹198 Crore Master Plan
During a recent visit by Chief Minister Vishnu Deo Sai, the district administration presented a ₹198 crore development master plan for the airport. With land availability now secured, priority will be given to key infrastructure works, including:
- Runway strip widening – ₹40 crore
- Runway lighting – ₹5 crore
- Boundary wall (4.7 km) – Estimated cost
- ATC tower (22 meters) – ₹41 crore
- ILS equipment and related works – ₹17 crore
Administration’s Statement
Bilaspur Collector Sanjay Agrawal confirmed that the Army has officially transferred 290.8 acres of land to the district administration and all formalities have been completed at the district headquarters. He stated that runway expansion and other development works will now be accelerated to upgrade the airport and improve air connectivity in the region.
This development is expected to transform Bilasa Devi Chakrabhatha Airport into a key aviation hub in central India, supporting economic growth, tourism, and faster connectivity with major cities.
