The Centre has no objection to upgrade the Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar to international airport status if South East Asian countries proposed to have air links with the city.
This was stated by Union minister for civil aviation, Syed Shahanawaz Hussain here today. Hussain was here to unveil a bronze statue of late Biju Patnaik outside the airport building.
His view on the issue was in response to the long standing demand of the Orissa government for international status to Bhubaneswar airport.
Hussain announced that the Biju Patnaik Airport will henceforth be open to chartered flight under the government's open sky policy. He said, the chief minister Naveen Patnaik had requested that the airport be open to chartered flights to boost tourism and he was willing to accept the same.
Admitting that Orissa lagged behind other states as far as air connectivity was concerned, the minister said, it had been decided to operate Airbus 320 flights daily between Bhubaneswar and Delhi. Besides, the government will discuss with private airlines like Sahara Airlines and Jet Airways for connecting Bhubaneswar with other major cities, he added.
He said, the 7,400 feet runway at the Bhubaneswar airport will be extended to 9,000 feet with an investment of Rs 16 crore to facilitate landing of bigger aircrafts.
Earlier, Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik urged the Centre to introduce more flights to Delhi and Kolkata and allow chartered flights to land at Bhubaneswar.
The minister for tourism, AU Singhdeo suggested that flight in the Delhi-Varanasi-Bhubaneswar-Khajuraho-Delhi sector be introduced soon. He also emphasized on the need for introduction of a direct flight between Bhubaneswar and Banagalore for development of the Information Technology (IT) industries. Singhdeo also requested Hussain for application of apex fares policy to the Bhubaneswar sector.
