Govt plans to expand aviation infra of western Odisha with 4 more airstrips
Bhubaneswar: As many as four airstrips will come up in western Odisha — at Jamadarpali (Sambalpur), Satibhata (Bargarh), Gotma (Nuapada) and Tusura (Balangir), taking the total number of airports in the region to eight. Transport minister Bibhuti Jena recently gave the information in assembly while replying to a question from Balangir MLA Kalikesh Singh Deo.
The current airports in western Odisha include Jeypore airport (in Koraput), the Veer Surendra Sai airport in Jharsuguda, a small airport in Rourkela (in Sundargarh district) and an airstrip at Utkela (in Kalahandi district). All these four airports operate with direct connectivity to Bhubaneswar.
Singh Deo had asked if the govt had undertaken any projects to develop regional airports in Odisha, particularly in districts like Balangir and in Jeypore (in Koraput district). If so, he wanted to know the current status of these projects and the funds allocated for their development. He also wanted to know if there was a delay in completing these projects.
The minister’s reply revealed that there is a plan to upgrade Jeypore airport from 2B category to 3C and for this, 229.4 acres of land will be acquired. “For its development, Rs 64.4 crore has been allotted. The Tusura airport in Balangir district will be upgraded to 2B, for which Rs 65 crore has been sanctioned. Last Nov, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi laid the foundation for its upgradation and the obstacle limitation survey for this airport has been completed,” the minister’s written reply revealed. “The reasons for delay in taking up these projects are procedural, land acquisition and aerodrome licensing,” the minister added.
Besides, four more airports that will be made operational at Raisua and Barbil in Keonjhar district, Gudari in Kandhamal, Dandabos and Amarda in Mayurbhanj district. These airports will cater to the central, north and west-central regions of the state.
In Sept 2023, the then Union civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, in a letter to Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi had said that Rs 45 crore has been sanctioned for the development of the World War II airstrip at Amarda Road and two years ago, it gave approval to the state to develop it. The airstrip land belongs to Defence Research and Development Organisation and it has been lying unused for years. People have demanded revival of the airstrip for connectivity to north Odisha.
The state budget recently made a provision to establish a greenfield airport at the industrial and port town of Paradip to accelerate growth in industry, export and import and to further expand the aviation map in industrial clusters in coastal areas.
A greenfield airport is one that is built from scratch, unlike a brownfield one where some basic infrastructure is available and an airport is built to give a complete operational shape.
The current airports in western Odisha include Jeypore airport (in Koraput), the Veer Surendra Sai airport in Jharsuguda, a small airport in Rourkela (in Sundargarh district) and an airstrip at Utkela (in Kalahandi district). All these four airports operate with direct connectivity to Bhubaneswar.
Singh Deo had asked if the govt had undertaken any projects to develop regional airports in Odisha, particularly in districts like Balangir and in Jeypore (in Koraput district). If so, he wanted to know the current status of these projects and the funds allocated for their development. He also wanted to know if there was a delay in completing these projects.
The minister’s reply revealed that there is a plan to upgrade Jeypore airport from 2B category to 3C and for this, 229.4 acres of land will be acquired. “For its development, Rs 64.4 crore has been allotted. The Tusura airport in Balangir district will be upgraded to 2B, for which Rs 65 crore has been sanctioned. Last Nov, chief minister Mohan Charan Majhi laid the foundation for its upgradation and the obstacle limitation survey for this airport has been completed,” the minister’s written reply revealed. “The reasons for delay in taking up these projects are procedural, land acquisition and aerodrome licensing,” the minister added.
Besides, four more airports that will be made operational at Raisua and Barbil in Keonjhar district, Gudari in Kandhamal, Dandabos and Amarda in Mayurbhanj district. These airports will cater to the central, north and west-central regions of the state.
In Sept 2023, the then Union civil aviation minister, Jyotiraditya Scindia, in a letter to Balasore MP Pratap Chandra Sarangi had said that Rs 45 crore has been sanctioned for the development of the World War II airstrip at Amarda Road and two years ago, it gave approval to the state to develop it. The airstrip land belongs to Defence Research and Development Organisation and it has been lying unused for years. People have demanded revival of the airstrip for connectivity to north Odisha.
The state budget recently made a provision to establish a greenfield airport at the industrial and port town of Paradip to accelerate growth in industry, export and import and to further expand the aviation map in industrial clusters in coastal areas.
A greenfield airport is one that is built from scratch, unlike a brownfield one where some basic infrastructure is available and an airport is built to give a complete operational shape.
