At Donyi Polo Airport, A Great Hornbill Gate Will Greet Tourists

The majestic Great Hornbill gate made of bamboo will greet visitors to the newly constructed Donyi Polo Airport nearby. The gate, designed by Arunachalee architect Aroty Panyang, is shaped like the state bird, the Great Hornbill, and is intended to enlighten current and future generations about the state's history and traditions.

The gate is composed of bamboo, a material with a long history and connection to the people of the state. It was built in a record speed of five months, with a height of 23 feet and a width of 82 feet, to allow unimpeded circulation of large vehicles and airport traffic as needed. The airport is about 15 kilometres away from Itanagar. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said in a social media post that the magnificent 'Welcome Gate' of Donyi Polo airport is a brilliant design of Arunachali architect Miss Aroty Panyang.

"The 'Welcome Gate' is fashioned of Bambusa tulda and Bambusa balcooa, which is in keeping with our culture and collective vision of sustainable development. Miss Aroty, you make me proud! The design of the Welcome Gate is inspired by Arunachal's state bird, the Great Hornbill, and represents our strong connection with tribal culture "The chief minister said. "One of the most difficult aspects of this project was the construction schedule, which fell during the monsoon season. We overcome the difficulty by pre-fabricating elements of the structure offsite in a protected location, which allowed us to produce all needs in a methodical and timely manner. The construction was built in five months, five months ahead of plan "explained Panyang.

Because airports symbolise flight and the first plane was inspired by bird flight, the Great Indian Hornbill, with distinct features, served as the ideal inspiration for the gate design, according to Panyang. The traits, form, and flying of the Great Hornbill were all researched. The beak and how majestic it is in comparison to the size of the body, as well as the bird's large wingspan, were two of the most remarkable features.

These aspects were incorporated into the gate's design. The gate is built as a double-headed Hornbill, with wings spanning across the entry and exit roads, so that those approaching the airport as well as entering the state via aircraft are greeted by this huge and majestic bird, she added. "The gate is entirely made of bamboo and cane from the state, and only high-quality materials were employed." The building procedure began with the selection of materials. Only bamboo that was four years old was picked from healthy groves.

"Bambusa tulda (Jati Bamboo) was used for the roofing, and Bambusa balcooa (Baluka) was used for the arches and major construction. After harvesting, the bamboo was treated and maintained with non-toxic salts such as borax and boric acid powder, which extends its life by several decades "Panyang admitted. Members of our staff are experts in working with this material. They oversaw the entire process, from harvest to treatment through prefabrication and final structure construction. She claims that because they have grown up with the material, they can mould and mould it with perfect ease and confidence.

(source : PTI)