Centre has decided to renovate and develop around 400 abandoned airstrips across the country to strengthen air-connectivity. <br />''<br />''<br />''Disclosing this at Jamshedpur in Jharkhand on Thursday Secretary of Union Civil Aviation department R N Choubey said a drive has been launched to renovate and develop abandoned airstrips to improve air connectivity on the directive of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. <br />''<br />''<br />''Mr Choubey said, the Airports Authority of India prepared a Memorandum of Understanding in this regard and sent it to all the 29 states and seven Union Territories expressing its willingness to develop those air strips along with the respective state governments.<br />''<br />''<br />''Union Civil Aviation department Secretary said that Jharkhand is the first state in the country where an MOU was signed to develop one such abandoned air strip at Dhalbhumgarh. <br />''<br />''<br />''<span style="color: #222222;">He informed that a modern airport at an initial investment of 100 crore rupees would be developed at Dhalbhumgarh and the first phase of the airport would be completed in 18 months.</span><br />