Bhubaneswar: Union Minister Pratap Sarangi on Wednesday requested Civil Aviation Minister Hardeep Singh Puri to make Amarda Road Airport (Rasgovindpur) in Mayurbhnaj district functional for civilian use.
In a letter, Sarangi said the Airport, which is currently under the control of Indian Air Force, has enormous potential in the future Air traffic growth.
“The proposed Airport has immense potential to catalyse development by way of creating faster connectivity to boost tourism and business besides mainstreaming the unserved region,” Sarangi wrote.
“The existing infrastructure and facilities at the Indian Air Force operated Airport are still in very good conditions which can be gainfully utilised to make the said Airport functional for civilian use to meet the long standing public demand,” he added.
Sarangi said earlier also he had written to Prime Minister and the civil aviation minister regarding making the Airport operational. In reply, the civil aviation minister had informed that the Airport has already been included under UDAN Scheme as unserved Airport. However, no operator has come forward in several rounds of bids to operate flights from the Airport under UDAN Scheme.
“I would like to draw your kind attention to the growing requirement of Air connectivity to the Northern part of Odisha and the adjoining districts of West Bengal and Jharkhand in the interest of economic development of the Eastern India to realise the vision PURBODAYA of the Hon'ble Prime Minister,” the Union Minister said.
“I request you to kindly issue instructions to the concerned authorities to impress upon the Air Operators to bid for the operation from the proposed Airport in the light of enormous potential in the future Air traffic growth in this sector,” he added.
(Edited By Suryakant Jena)