Centre urged for civil, commercial usage of Advanced Landing Grounds for Arunachal

ITANAGAR: Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh Ninong Ering has requested Defence Minister Manohar Parrikar as well as Civil Aviation Minister Ashok Gajapathi Raju for utilization of Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in the state for civil and commercial purposes, besides their use by the military.

"If the ALGs become operational for civil and commercial purposes, it will give a major boost to air connectivity and development of the land locked state," Ering said in a letter to both Raju and Parrikar yesterday.

In the letter, a copy of which was made available to the press, Ering urged the ministers to work together on the matter to utilize the ALGs for both commercial and civil purposes.

The ALGS which were mostly constructed for defence purposes are located at Ziro, Tuting, Mechukha, Tawang, Pasighat, Walong, Aalo and Vijaynagar.

The ALGs at Ziro and Aalo have already become operational. The other ALGs are currently in different stages of up gradation.

"Besides IAF, Pawan Hans also operates helicopters from those ALGs during the non-monsoon periods," Ering said in his letter.