Odisha mulling new airport near Khurda

Bhubaneswar: Hurdles in land acquisition and non-availability of adequate land for expansion of Biju Patnaik International Airport in Bhubaneswar has prompted the Odisha Government to think of building a new airport near Khurda.

According to sources, around 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 Airbuses. However, problems are surfacing in identifying required land adjacent to the existing airport.

In view of unavailability of land, Airports Authority of India (AAI) recently wrote to Odisha Chief Secretary seeking around 1,500 to 2,000-acre land.

"The AAI has 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. But, identification of land may take time," said Bhubaneswar Airport director, Suresh Chandra Hota.

Moreover, apprehending hurdles in land acquisition process near the existing airport, government sources feel that building a new airport near Khurda towards south of Bhubaneswar is more feasible.

"We will be forced to identify new land for the airport as problems arise in land acquisition. So, we are going locate a place in the southern direction of Bhubaneswar for construction of a new airport," Chief Secretary, AP Padhi said.

Currently, the existing airport is functioning with 2,742-metre long runway with 30 flights operating from here on regular basis.

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