Odisha’s Bolangir airstrip remains grounded; no airline bids yet for Tusura despite investment push

The Tusura airstrip in Bolangir district remains non-operational under the Centre’s flagship regional air connectivity scheme, UDAN, with no airline showing interest in operating flights from the location so far. 

The information was revealed by the Union Ministry of Civil Aviation in response to a question raised in the Rajya Sabha on Monday.

Although Tusura is listed among the unserved airstrips eligible under the UDAN scheme, the Union government clarified that no airline bidder has submitted proposals for operating regional flights from the site.

As per the scheme’s provisions, operationalisation of such airstrips is contingent on valid airline bids, which have not been forthcoming for Tusura to date.

Airstrip Near Utkela Sees No Takers

Located about 45 kilometres from Balangir town, Tusura lies close to the Utkela airstrip in Kalahandi, which is already functioning as a UDAN destination.

Despite this investment and its inclusion in future aviation development plans, the airstrip has yet to attract commercial interest. The Ministry said that if an airline submits a proposal in future bidding rounds, Tusura could still be considered for inclusion.

Odisha Pushes Ahead With Regional Aviation Plans

Even as Tusura awaits operationalisation, the Odisha government has signalled broader aviation ambitions.

Earlier this year, the state announced four new airstrips in Western Odisha, including Tusura, Jamadarpali (Sambalpur), Satibhata (Bargarh), and Gotma (Nuapada), increasing the region’s total airstrips to eight.

Additionally, the state unveiled plans to lease out eight airstrips, including Tusura, for the establishment of flight training institutes on a public-private partnership model.

Nationally, 32 routes in Odisha and 90 in the northeast have been operationalised under RCS-UDAN so far. The scheme, backed by a Rs 300 crore allocation for FY 2025–26, targets better connectivity for Tier-2 and Tier-3 towns, including tribal regions, by upgrading airstrips based on airline demand.