Odisha Government proposes Greenfield commercial airport at Berhampur

Govt plans to upgrade 3 airstrips

To boost air connectivity in the state, the state government is planning to convert three airstrips into commercial airports. The airstrips are Jeypore in Koraput district, Rangailunda near Berhampur and Raisuan near Keonjhar. The state government would soon send a proposal to the Centre in this regard, official sources said.

The issue was discussed at the all secretaries meet chaired by chief secretary G C Pati here. The state government has agreed to provide required infrastructure to upgrade the airstrips.

Through Odisha has 17 airstrips, so far only the Biju Patnaik International Airport is in an operational stage. As the existing Rangailunda airstrip near Berhampur is not viable for expansion, the state government has identified over 500 acre at a new location on Berhampur-Gopalpur road in Kanisi tehsil of Ganjam district.

"To start commercial operation, we need to expand the airstrips. The existing location could not be expanded as it is surrounded by the campus of Berhampur University. An Airports Authority of India (AAI) team has already visited the new site," said a GA department officer.

The state has proposed to extend the length of Jeypore airstrip to 6,500 ft from the existing 3,000 ft. For safety and security of airports, the boundary walls would also be constructed. "The district administration has identified over 450 acre for expansion of the airstrip. Keeping in mind the existence of a PSU and business establishments, the AAI has already conducted the pre-feasibility report," the officer said.

-TNN | Jun 4, 2015