Jaipur, March 6 (NationPress) On the eve of the ground-breaking ceremony for the Kota–Bundi Greenfield Airport, former Chief Minister of Rajasthan, Ashok Gehlot, highlighted the contributions of the previous Congress administration in launching this initiative. He noted that significant actions, such as land allocation and securing initial approvals, were undertaken during his leadership to bring the airport to fruition.

The foundation stone for the Kota–Bundi Greenfield Airport, a vital venture for the Hadoti area, is set to be laid on Saturday at the new airport location in Shambhupura. The ceremony will be attended by Om Birla, the Speaker of the Lok Sabha, alongside current Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajan Lal Sharma.

In addition, the event will also mark the foundation laying (Bhoomi Pujan) for two significant drinking water initiatives in the region—the Navnera Mega Drinking Water Project and the Parvan–Akawad Mega Drinking Water Project.

The Kota–Bundi Greenfield Airport is projected to cost approximately Rs 1,507 crore and is designed to accommodate around 1,000 passengers during peak hours.

The airport will feature a 20,000 square metre terminal building, a runway measuring 3,200 metres in length and 45 metres in width, parking for Airbus A-321 aircraft, and seven bays for aircraft parking.

This airport is anticipated to greatly enhance air connectivity for Kota, Bundi, and the broader Hadoti region, fostering growth in tourism, commerce, and regional prosperity.

Ashok Gehlot remarked that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had pledged to the residents of Kota about establishing an airport during a public gathering, leading the Congress government to take decisive measures for its realization. “In 2021, our government generously allocated 1,250 acres of land at no cost for the airport project in Kota,” Gehlot stated.

He also mentioned that in 2022, a budget of Rs 120 crore was sanctioned for relocating power lines necessary for the airport's construction.

However, Gehlot accused the Central government of causing delays that stalled the project for nearly four years.

“Now that the foundation stone is being laid, there is hope for the construction work to be completed promptly and with high standards,” Gehlot expressed.

The former Chief Minister further noted that the Congress government aimed to transform Kota into a significant tourism destination, highlighting projects like the Chambal Riverfront, designed to increase tourist traffic to the area. He criticized the current BJP administration for failing to develop essential facilities such as dining and other amenities at the riverfront.

Gehlot urged the Rajasthan government to enhance and maintain the riverfront effectively, as this would help boost tourism in the Hadoti region and give greater significance to the airport project.

Numerous dignitaries are expected to grace the event, including Union Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu, Education Minister Madan Dilawar, and PHED Minister Kanhaiya Lal Chaudhary, among others.

Other public representatives expected to attend include Kota South MLA Sandeep Sharma, Ladpura MLA Kalpana Devi, BJP city president Rakesh Jain, rural district president Prem Gochar, along with various officials and local representatives.