New helipad comes up at Suvarna Soudha premises

BELAGAVI: Suvarna Vidhana Soudha (SVS) which used hardly once in a year for legislature session has its exclusive helipad.
Helipad has come-up in the SVS premises following the proposal of police department keeping security of VIPs and VVIPs in the mind. Henceforth, including legislators, ministers and senior officials can land directly at SVS premise.
Earlier, VIPs and VVIPs had to land at Sambra airport and arrive to SVS by road.This used to put additional security burden upon police personnel. They had to arrange police along the road route beginning from airport. Since the helipad came-up at SVS premises now, police department doesn’t need to arrange security at airport and along the route to SVS.
According to Sanjeevkumar, assistant executive engineer of PWD, police department has been proposed for three helipads at SVS premises. However, government has sanctioned one at the initial stage in the cost of Rs 20 lakhs. Implementing agency PWD had sent proposal of another Rs 20 lakhs to make the new helipad more secure and attractive with stone pitching, lighting, colouring so it can easily appear from high distance and most of all it should not get dirty with rainwater. However, PWD’s additional proposal has been rejected by the government, Sanjeevkumar said to the TOI.
According to PWD sources, just not during legislature sessions, but government officials, legislators and ministers can use the helipad in other occasions also. PWD executive engineer RB Dyamannavar said as per rulebook, three helipads are required to land VVIPs like the president and prime minister. At present, helicopters of national level VVIPs lands at the helipad of Maratha Light Infantry Regimental Centre (MLIRC), but as it falls in army area, civil police faces lot of problems. Dyamannavar said land has been earmarked for two more helipads in SVS premises.