Sindri: Residents in Dhanbad , which has emerged as the state’s education hub, say that lack of air connectivity may become a major election issue this time.P K Singh, director of the Central Institute of Mining and Fuel Research (CIMFR), says, “Owing to the absence of air connectivity, we find it difficult to recruit and retain talent here.” He adds, “It is also difficult to get eminent scientists or Nobel laureates as speakers. Political parties must help Dhanbad grow as an international centre of excellence.” He further says, “Dhanbad needs a dynamic MP who can convince the Centre about the need for having an airport here.”P K Singh says his wish list includes construction of a flyover connecting Bank More with other parts of Dhanbad and a well-equipped modern hospital.Besides CIMFR, reputed institutions such as IIT BIT Sindri and Patliputra Medical College and Hospital are also located in Dhanbad, which is often called the coal capital of the country.D K Singh, director of BIT Sindri, says, “I am also of the view that whoever wins from here and whoever forms the government must do something to extend air connectivity to Dhanbad.” He adds that big companies find it quite difficult to come to Sindri for campus recruitment because Dhanbad has no airport.D K Singh says, “Dhanbad is an industrial township and it needs clean air and drinking water. Whoever becomes an MP from here should work towards reducing pollution and keeping Dhanbad neat and clean.”Speaking on similar lines, Rajiv Shekhar, director of Indian School of Mines (which is now known as IIT Dhanbad), remarks, “Our future representatives should focus on introducing air connectivity and quality higher education.” He says, “Dhanbad has many good schools. But the quality of education at the college level is not up to the mark. We want the political leadership here to take note of this.”

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