AAI chief to review modernization of Odisha’s Jharsuguda airport

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Bhubaneswar, Feb 6:

Airports Authority of India (AAI) Chairman Guru Prasad Mohapatra will be on a visit to Odisha on Friday to oversee the progress of modernization of Jharsuguda airport.

During his visit, Mohapatra will review the progress of modernization work of Jharsuguda airport which is scheduled to be commissioned in the month of May in 2018.

The AAI Chairman after his arrival at Bhubaneswar will visit Jharsuguda by helicopter. Special Secretary General Administration Department, Executive Engineer of the concerned department and other senior officials will accompany him during the visit. He will review the progress of various developmental works concerning the airport, sources at the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) here said.

Mohapatra will review flight connectivity of Jharsuguda with Bhubaneswar airport and other airports in the state under the Ude Desh ka Aam Naagrik (UDAN) scheme.

Earlier, while completion of modernization of Jharsuguda airport was scheduled to be completed in October 2018, currently it has been rescheduled for May in the same year.

Construction works of a terminal to handle 300 passengers at a time, runway, taxiway, control tower, fire station, staff quarters, technical block etc are underway at Jharsuguda airport.

The airport being constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 200 crore will have facilities to handle Airbus A-320 flights.  The state government will provide free land and Rs75 crore financial assistance for construction of the airport.

The AAI Chairman on his return from Jharsuguda would brief the press on flight connectivity in Odisha at Bhubaneswar, sources revealed.