Bhubaneswar: Plans of several air travellers from Odisha could get affected as flight operations from Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar is likely to be partially suspended for eight long months.
The flight services are likely to be rescheduled as the re-carpeting work of the airport’s runway will be taken up from November. The re-carpeting of the runway is a regular maintenance work which is done every 10 years. The re-carpeting of the runway was last taken up at Biju Patnaik airport in 2007.
Bhubaneswar Airport Director, Suresh Chandra Hota informed that as the re-carpeting work of main runway will be taken up, we have decided to close the airport from 10:30 PM to 5:30 AM from November 1, 2019 to March 31, 2020.
“The corporate headquarters has approved the proposal for taking up the re-carpeting of runway. As the work will be carried on the main runway, we have decided to keep the runway closed from November 1 during night hours. After conducting necessary safety assessment, we will inform DGCA for necessary approval,” said Hota.
Hota further said that flight operations during daytime at the airport will be suspended from April 1 to June 30, 2020 (10:30 AM to 6 PM). The work for joining the parallel taxi-track with the runway will be taken up during this period so that further closure is avoided.
“To take up the massive work, we have to reschedule flight operations during night hours in the first phase and daytime in the second phase,” Hota added.
At present, there is main runway of 1432 mts and another runway of 500 mts at Bhubaneswar airport. The main runway is used by big aircrafts like Airbus and Boeings for landing.
Senior officials informed that re-carpeting of the runway is a routine affair and is essential to reduce further degradation of the runway.
“Keeping in view the rise in frequency of the flight operations at the airport, re-carpeting is essential. It will lead to increased braking efficiency of the aircraft as well as safe landing,” said pilot Raj Narayan Mohapatra.
Many believe that in view of the rise in air traffic, there is a need of another airport in Bhubaneswar which has a single runway.