Commercial flight service may soon become a reality from the Jeypore airstrip in Koraput district of Odisha as the administration is working in full swing to complete all the works in the next two months.
Informing about the commencement of Jeypore Airport operations and the work updates, Koraput Collector, Abdal M Akhtar said, "The administration is focused on making the Jeypore airport operational and commencing the flight services from the airstrip as soon as possible."
Earlier, the width of the runway was 900 meter which was later extended to 1200 meter. But, as per the latest orders, the runway will be extended to 1500 meter and the work is under progress for the same after the tender approval.
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"There are around 3-4 major elements of Jeypore airport. The construction works of approach road and barracks for police and security guards are in full swing. We hope, these will end within 2 months. Meanwhile, the main runway extension work from 900 meter to 1500 meter has also started," said Akhtar.
Moreover, a bridge will also be constructed over the canal near the airport as soon as the work-order is released. Every effort will be given to complete the inclusive works so that flight services can be resumed as soon as possible with the perfect arrangements.
After Bhubaneswar and Jharsuguda, the Jeypore airstrip will be the third to get the civil aviation airport tag in the State.
The airstrip built in the 1960s was used during the visit of ministers or VIPs to the town. In the 1980s Vayudoot operated flights from the airstrip. But the service was stopped after crash of a flight.
There were plans to launch flights from Jeypore airstrip on UDAN routes from September 2017. But the plan got delayed due to infrastructural problems.