Odisha begins process to set up new airport in Khurda

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government has begun the process of constructing a new airport on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar. A meeting in this regard was held in the State Secretariat today.

During discussions in presence of Ministry of Civil Aviation's joint secretary Usha Padhi and Odisha Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi among others, the Khurda district administration informed that land at Malipada, Jankia, Tangiapada and Badasahi in the district have been identified for establishment of the airport. The Airports Authority of India (AAI), who will decide the spot after a tour of the area, was also apprised of the land.

"Discussion was held on the future requirements and an assessment has been done on the expected date of the project," said Bhubaneswar Airport director Suresh Chandra Hota.

Government as well as private land is present in the four identified places. Therefore, acquisition of private land will be undertaken if required, informed Khurda Collector, Nirmal Chandra Mishra.

"There is a proposal for establishing a green field airport for which a land had been identified earlier. Two to three other places also have been identified and the AAI will conduct a feasibility study of the areas," said Mishra.

Earlier, the AAI had sent a letter to State government to identify around 2,000-acre land for a green field airport project where Code-E or wide-body aircrafts can land.

Odisha government had proposed the new airport after problems arose in identifying land for expansion of existing Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar as 64-acre land is required to expand the runway of the existing airport to facilitate safe landing of code-E flights like Boeing 747, Boeing 777 and Airbus.

Currently, the existing airport is functioning with 2,742-metre long runway.

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