Location hunt for new airport near Odisha capital begins

Bhubaneswar: With Airports Authority of India (AAI) proposing for a greenfield international airport near Bhubaneswar, Odisha government has initiated the process for identifying 1500-2000 acres of land near Khordha.

The General Administration (GA) department of the State government has written to Chairman-cum-Managing Director (CMD) Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (IDCO) and Vice Chairman Bhubaneswar Development Authority (BDA) to identify 1500-2000 acres for the purpose near Khordha.

“The AAI have proposed for construction of new greenfield airport since the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA), Bhubaneswar is not suitable for further expansion as per their requirement. The approximate land requirement for new international airport will be about 1500-2000 acres and preferably not far away from the main city (Bhubaneswar),” the G A department’s letter addressed to IDCO CMD and BDA Vice Chairman said.

The GA department has asked IDCO and BDA to intimate about the availability of land for the purpose.

“……..requested to kindly intimate the availability of land, if any, for such an airport in Greater Bhubaneswar Master Plan beyond Khordha. The details of the background of such proposal, if any, with the present status, may please be furnished for consideration of government,” the letter further said.

AAI Chairman Guruprasad Mohapatra had in a letter after his recent visit here had indicated to the State government requirement of 1,500 to 2,000 acres of land for development of a greenfield airport near Bhubaneswar.

Mahapatra during his visit here had held discussions with Chief Secretary Aditya Prasad Padhi and other senior officials regarding extension of the runway of BPIA.

During the discussions, Mahapatra had apprised the Chief Secretary that a minimum of 64 acres of land was required for a suitable expansion of the runway to operate international flights from the BPIA.

However, it was felt that removing various existing structures posed big hindrance in the acquisition of the required land.

Hence, Mohapatra wrote to the State government to identify land for a greenfield international airport not far away from Bhubaneswar.