Admin ‘ready’ for Flying Club in Chandrapur

Staff Reporter

A meeting regarding Nagpur Flying Club (NFC) was held at Divisional Commissionerate on Friday, in which discussion was held regarding proposal for setting up another Flying Club at Chandrapur. Vijayalakshmi Bidari-Prasanna, Divisional Commissioner, later told reporters that the administration was favourable for Chandrapur Flying Club.

“Setting up Flying Club at Chandrapur on land near MIDC will require cost for development of necessary infrastructure there. If the leadership at Chandrapur is willing and makes efforts to meet the expenditure through District Mineral Foundation or other sources of funds, the administration is ready for the project,” the Divisional Commissioner told mediapersons, during a press conference regarding the electoral rolls revision for election to State Legislative Council from Teachers’ Constituency.

As per the estimates, a cost of Rs 25 crore may be incurred on infrastructure development. If the Flying Club of Chandrapur materialises, it will be the second district in Vidarbha region, after Nagpur, to have a flying club. As far as the NFC is concerned, the Divisional Commissioner told repoters that it was regaining vigour. Already, Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Research & Training Institute (MAHAJYOTI) is providing 20 candidates to the NFC per year. MAHAJYOTI is sponsoring the 18-month training of the candidates. In the meeting held on Friday, shifting of hangar and other issues also were discussed, she added.

It may be recalled here that the NFC dates back to the British era. It had closed down due to the Government apathy. Paucity of funds for maintenance of the club, delays in acquisition of machine, issues with appointment of staff etc affected the prospects of the NFC. Flt Lt Shridhar Ghatate (retd) had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking revival of the NFC. He had filed the PIL through counsel Shriniwas Deshpande.

Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court had issued directives from time to time, to the administration, to pave way for its revival. With the efforts of the successive Divisional Commissioners namely Anoop Kumar, Dr Sanjeev Kumar, and Prajakta Lavangare-Verma, the NFC was finally reopened.