Air connectivity to Berhampur: Need for a dedicated regional air service in the State

RP Tripathy

Recently many State governments like Chhattisgarh, Kerala, Gujarat and some North-Eastern states have come forward with plans for dedicated regional air service and have made considerable progress in this. Odisha has been considered a laggard as far as air connectivity is concerned (for that matter many districts are not even properly connected by railways and roads) and just putting the blame on central apathy every time won’t do any good to the State. Further, it may not be feasible for the national carrier to start air services to regional towns and industrial centers of Odisha from other metros of India owing to issues of revenue, passenger demand and lack of infrastructure for landing etc. But, connecting the regional growth centers by air is indispensable for the industrial and educational development of the state. It is also critical for development of tourism sector and faster medical services. Can’t our State Govt think of a similar dedicated regional air service to connect the regional growth centers with the state capital or with the nearest metro i.e., Kolkata? A dedicated regional air service connecting =Bhubaneswar-Berhampur-Koraput-Jharsuguda-Rourkela-Badbil-Kolkata-Bhubaneswar= will ensure faster development of the state and will make the entire state approachable by air.

The air strip on the outskirts of Berhampur city which is mostly used by the Ministry of Defence personnel can thus be put to use for civilian communication as well. The AAI has its staff quarters and establishments in Berhampur city. There also exists an air traffic control tower in Berhampur which can facilitate landing of regular flights. A dedicated regional air service as mentioned above can help connect Berhampur with Bhubaneswar, Rourkela and Calcutta by air and thus ensure its future growth. Presence of tourist destinations like Gopalpur, Taratarini Hill Shrine, Chilika and establishments like Gopalpur port, proposed SEZ, STPI and IT Park and a host of educational institutions will make air connectivity to the city a viable proposition. This is an issue worth looking at.