The state government has proposed to build an airport at Rajpipla, an erstwhile princely state in Narmada district, to provide air connectivity for tourists visiting the Statue of Unity at Kevadia Colony in the district. Chief Minister Vijay Rupani held consultations with the chairman of Airport Authority of India (AAI) Guruprasad Mahapatra a few weeks ago regarding the proposal. Read | Gujarat govt creates new post: Chief administrator of Statue of Unity Speaking with The Indian Express, S J Haider, Principal Secretary, Civil Aviation ministry, Government of Gujarat, said, “On the outskirts of Rajpipla, about 28 kms from Statue of Unity, there is an airstrip which was developed by the royals of Rajpipla. It has been abandoned for a long time now and we are keen on redeveloping it.” Read | Gujarat: At Statue of Unity, over hundred villagers sit in protest, demand jobs At present, the air strip covers an area of 47 hectares. However, the AAI has sought for a larger area to develop the airport. Talking to The Indian Express, AAI chairman Guruprasad Mahapatra said, “The state government had put forth the proposal for the airport at Rajpipla and had sought our technical assistance for the same.”
