Press Trust of India,
The countdown for the much-awaited induction of Hawk Advanced Jet Trainers has begun as IAF has started 18 infrastructure development projects worth Rs 120 crore in Air Force station, Bidar, and for acquiring forest land near it.
Construction of a new hangar, a new ATC building, armament centre, extension of the existing runways to 9,000 feet and upgradation of various other infrastructures will be completed in June 2007 as part of the projects undertaken to accommodate Hawk in Bidar Air Force station, which has been selected the main operating base for the British AJTs.
“Hawk will require better security environment and infrastructure and we will finish the requirements by June 2007,” said Air Commodore J S Dhillon, Commanding Officer, Airforce Station, Bidar adding that delivery of the Hawk AJTs will commence from September, 2007.
The Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) has sanctioned Rs 140 crores for creation of Hawk-related infrastructure at the station and accordingly work on the projects were started in January, he said.
He said the IAF has written to the Ministry of Forest and Environment for acquiring 1935 acres of land in a village called Nirna, about 30 km from Bidar.
“Since the Hawk will be firing armament and armament firing is a requirement for stage III training that we will be doing on the Hawk, we have made a bid to acquire approximately 1935 acres in a village called Nirna which is approximately 30 kilometers from here,” he said.
