Expressing displeasure over inordinate delay by contractor tasked with recarpeting of the airstrip at Nagpur’s Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar International Airport, Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways, directed the authorities concerned to complete the work within a month. “I have noticed during the inspection, had the contractor planned the work properly, the recarpeting of the runway would not have delayed. I have summoned the contractor and warned him if he failed to complete the work in time, his contract would be terminated,” informed Gadkari while talking to the mediapersons after inspecting the runway, on Monday. Gadkari apologised to people as they had to undergo sufferings due to the delay. Similarly, Gadkari criticised various airlines operating at the city airport for increasing airfare. “After the announcement of recarpeting work, the airlines rescheduled their flights and hiked airfare causing a lot of sufferings to the air passengers.

 

It should not have happened for which I apologise to the people.” Directorate General of Civil Aviation had asked Maharashtra Airport Development Company (MADC) in 2020 to get the recarpeting work done but it was not done. When it was brought to the notice of Gadkari, he said he would speak to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and push for its enquiry. Gadkari blamed the contractor and Airports Authority of India (AAI) for the delay. The last runway recarpeting was done in 2013-14 through the Airports Authority of India (AAI). Mihan India Limited (MIL) operates the Nagpur airport with AAI. Gadkari discussed the issue with MIL. MIL said the AAI has informed that the project is expected to be completed by May 2025 provided that the runway is available for 8 hours on a daily basis. The airstrip work is done by MIHAN management. AAI allotted the tender for the recarpeting work to M/S KG Gupta in May 2024, Gadkari told reporters after inspecting the airstrip. Gadkari had appointed a committee to ensure the swift completion of recarpeting work. The committee comprises Girdhari Mantri, Prakash Bhoyar and Dilip Jadhav. However, the work had to be suspended from October 9 to November 23 due to the model code for the Maharashtra Assembly elections.