Odisha government today asked Airport Authority of India (AAI) to complete the expansion work of Jharsuguda airport by June, 2018 as decided earlier.
The direction was issued by state Chief Secretary A P Padhi here today while reviewing the progress made in the Rs 210 crore project of which the state government would provide Rs 75 crore besides land free of premium.
The airport work executants from AAI, district collector of Jharsuguda and DFO, Jharsuguda were told to expedite the works and complete all the defined works within the scheduled time. Collector along with district level officers participated in the meeting through video conferencing.
Padhi told newsmen that Jharsuguda air port is being developed through joint funding from AAI and the government of Odisha. "Apart from providing land, the state govenrment would also provide fund support for construction of the airport. The progress was satisfactory and we hope that AAI would be able to complete the work in scheduled time."
Padi said majority of the land related issues has been resolved. AAI has been handed over 106.23 acres out of which 51.8 acres are government land and 54.43 acres are private land.
This apart, the Stage-1 clearance has been obtained for 9.6 acres of forest land. Tender has been awarded for the works like construction of pavement, passenger terminal building, service block, ATC tower, staff quarters and others, he said adding the construction of the airport has been going on in full speed.
The runway will be expanded from present length of 1882 meters to 239 mts x 45 mts, he added.
