Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik meets PM Modi, says no political discussions held

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, who met Prime Minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi on Thursday, said that the state's demands and the upcoming international airport in Puri dominated the discussions.

“I have just met the Prime Minister. The topic of discussion was mainly about Odisha’s demands which include an international airport - the Shree Jagannath International Airport which we want to set up in Puri,” said Patnaik while speaking to reporters after his meeting with the PM.

“Bhubaneswar airport is getting too much traffic now. So we definitely want an expansion. We have already outlined the boundary of the proposed airport in Puri,” he said.

Asked about the political affiliations and the discussion surrounding his meeting with Bihar CM, Nitish Kumar, Patnaik said, “I have not discussed anything with the Prime Minister in this connection. As far as I am concerned there is no possibility of BJD joining a third front as of now.”

“Going alone in the Assembly and Parliament elections has always been our principle,” he added.

It is pertinent to mention here that the state government has already identified 1,200 acres of land in Sipasarubali mouza for the international airport. However, there is an obstacle as a little portion of the proposed airport comes under forest area and CRZ (Coastal Regulation Zone).

On January 1, 2022, Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, regarding the establishment of a world-class Shree Jagannath airport in Puri.