Rangeilunda airstrip renovation to conclude in 3 months: Odisha Minister 

The Rangeilunda airstrip in Gopalpur town in Ganjam district, which witnessed an unscheduled aircraft being welcomed with customary water canon salute on March 5, 2023, has since been lying closed, triggering resentment among people. 

When the unscheduled nine-seater aircraft landed at Rangeilunda airstrip, local residents were hopeful that they would too have the opportunity to fly to their destinations. But that didn’t happen. The airstrip has been lying closed for the last six months in the name of modernisation. 

“If the airport is made functional as soon as possible, we the residents of Berhampur will immensely benefit. We can go to Visakhapatnam or Kolkata easily,” said Ananta Narayan Pradhan, a Berhampur resident. 

Also Read: Non-scheduled flight services commence from Bhubaneswar to Rangeilunda Airport

“About 40 lakh people of Ganjam district depend on Berhampur, which is the centre of the district. We are yet to understand why the government is neglecting us. As the government had said the flight service at the airport would resume by March, we are eagerly waiting to see bigger planes operating from the airport,” said B Someswar, secretary of Odisha Development Forum. 

Because of the presence of institutions such as the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Gopalpur Port, Berhampur University and IRE, there is a requirement for Rangeilunda airstrip. 

Given the large number of visitors from different parts of India and abroad coming to Berhampur on several occasions, local people demanded the airstrip be upgraded to airport and the operational of bigger planes. 

“While the length of the runway is 1200 metres, the government has not handed it over to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). If it is handed over to the DGCA, then bigger planes can operate from here. If the length of the runway is increased to 2000 metres, even 72-seater planes can take off from here,” said Manas Ranjan Sahu, a social activist. 

When contacted, Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhushan Jena said the flight services will be made available to people after completion of renovation work in two to three months’ time.

“The length of the runway is around 700 metres. It would be increased to around 900 metres. The renovation works are expected to be completed within the next two to three months, paving the way for more effective daily passenger flights,” said the Transport Minister.