Odisha signs MoU with AAI to develop Jharsuguda airport

Bhubaneswar: Odisha government on Wednesday signed a memorandum of understanding with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for development of Jharsuguda airstrip into a full-fledged airport.

Sources said as per the agreement, the state government would invest Rs 75 crore out of total expenditure of Rs 210 crore for the proposed airport.

AAI will provide 296.5 acre land for the second airport in the state.

Official sources said the airport will be operational within two years after getting the requisite land.

Initially the proposed airport’s runway will be expanded from 6,000ft to 9,000ft, they added.

The MoU was inked by AAI chairman Alok Sinha and special secretary of the state General Administration department Nitin Chandra in presence of Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik.