Odisha government, in its bid to increase air connectivity to different parts of the state, today asked Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) authorities to prepare a project proposal for enabling the existing airstrip to carry out commercial operations.
The state government maintained this at a high level meeting presided by Chief Secretary G C Pati. The meeting was attended by the officials of the Airport Authority of India (AAI), Sail and representatives of the Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industries.
"We have discussed various issues to start commercial operations from the airstrip. We have given some suggestions to the government. The support of government and Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP) is required for infrastructure development," said Sarad Kumar, director of Biju Patnaik Airport here.
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The air-strip at Rourkela, which is operating under the aegis of the Steel Authority of India Limited (SAIL), has a runway length of 6,000 ft. The AAI wants it to be increased by another 1,500 ft for making its suitable for landing of commercial planes.
Keeping an eye on the fuel requirement to start commercial operation at Rourkela, the state government asked the Indian Oil Corporation Limited (IOCL) to make fuel arrangements smooth.
This apart, the state assured the AAI that it would provide essential services like fire safety infrastructure and ambulance services.
"The airstrip is in good shape and the AAI can start commercial operations anytime even though they want to increase the runway. It would be commercially viable for the AAI and benefit people," said Rourkela Chamber of Commerce and Industry (RCCI) president Subrata Patnaik.
Apart from benefiting the mining rich and industrially developed Sundargarh district, the commercial operation of the Rourkela airstrip would help the students and faculty members of the National Institute of Technology, Rourkela (NIT-R).
Meanwhile the General Administration (GA) department of Odisha government in a letter to AAI chairman Alok Sinha urged to develop the Jeypore airstrip in Koraput into a commercial airport.
