The Ministry of civil aviation has agreed to prepare a note immediately to seek Cabinet approval for upgrading the Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar into an international airport, responding to Orissa's long-standing demand.
The ministry will also consider the possibility of connecting Bhubaneswar to West Asian countries and South-East Asia to boost airline traffic. The assurance was made by Ajit Singh, Union minister for civil aviation during a recent meeting with Orissa Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik in New Delhi.
With Orissa witnessing spurt in investments in various industrial sectors and the state's air connectivity not adequate to meet this industrial growth, Patnaik had urged the Centre to upgrade the Biju Patnaik airport into an international airport
Stressing on the need for upgrading the airport, Patnaik has said the airport should be provided all facilities including an international terminal with 24x7 ATC (air traffic control) operations, customs and immigration facilities and security.
Besides, the Ministry of civil aviation may accord early clearance to those airlines which are interested to operate international flights to and from Bhubaneswar, Patnaik suggested.
In addition to declaring the Biju Patnaik airport as an international airport, he has also impressed upon the Union minister for providing necessary infrastructural support to the Jharsuguda airport for enabling domestic airlines to operate from the airport.
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The Union minister has assured Patnaik that the length of the Jharsuguda airstrip would be increased at the earliest to make it operational for domestic airlines.
Patnaik has also stated that the Airports Authority of India (AAI) may have a closer look at the other existing airports in the state and provide the required infrastructural support to make the feasible airports operational for domestic airlines.