The Odisha government will spend Rs 30 crore on infrastructure development of eight air strips under its control. The decision to spend the amount was taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik today.
The infrastructure development would include development of running light system and advance air traffic advisory system at the eight airstrips in phases. The tender process for development of Jeypore airstrip in Koraput district and Jamadar Palli airstrip in Sambalpur district in the first phase has already been initiated.
In Odisha, three airstrips are under the control of private parties and one each under Airports Authority of India (AAI), defence ministry and Steel Authority of India Ltd (SAIL).
The meeting also discussed about the international flight operations from Biju Patnaik international airport and helicopter services to tourism spots and commercial hubs. Chief secretary G C Pati, development commissioner U N Behera and R Balakrishnan , additional chief secretary (finance), among others attended the meeting.
Earlier, the chief minister had urged the Ministry of Civil Aviation to to take up feasibility studies for developing the existing state owned airstrips at Gopalpur and Jeypore into full-fledged regional airports.
In April this year, the state government had sought the intervention of the Centre to expand the airstrip at Jeypore for handling commercial flights. In a letter, the state chief secretary had urged the Ministry of Defence to direct Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd (HAL), Sunabeda to expand the airstrip. The Jeypore airstrip is located on the side of Visakhapatnam- Jagdalpur National Highway and lies between Raipur and Visakhapatnam air corridor.
Last year, the state government had sought technical and financial help from AAI to upgrade the Jeypore airstrip into a commercial airport, citing its proximity to top industrial sites in the state.
Apart from HAL at Sunabeda, major industries like aluminium major National Aluminium Company (Nalco) and paper manufacturer Ballarpur Industries Ltd (BILT) have their operations in Koraput district. Besides development of airstrips, the state government plans to develop mini-airports at the industrial clusters of Paradip, Dhamra and Kalinganagar.
