Govt to Expand Aviation Infrastructure in Western Odisha with Four New Airstrips.

The Odisha government will develop four new airstrips in western Odisha, increasing the region’s total number of airports to eight. The new airstrips will be located at Jamadarpali (Sambalpur), Satibhata (Bargarh), Gotma (Nuapada), and Tusura (Balangir), Transport Minister Bibhuti Jena informed the state assembly while responding to a query from Balangir MLA Kalikesh Singh Deo.

Currently, western Odisha has four operational airports: Jeypore (Koraput), Veer Surendra Sai Airport (Jharsuguda), a small airport in Rourkela (Sundargarh district), and an airstrip at Utkela (Kalahandi district), all of which provide direct connectivity to Bhubaneswar.

In his query, Singh Deo sought details on the government’s initiatives to develop regional airports, particularly in Balangir and Jeypore, and raised concerns regarding potential delays in project execution.

The minister stated that Jeypore airport would be upgraded from 2B to 3C category with the acquisition of 229.4 acres of land, for which ₹64.4 crore has been allocated. Similarly, Tusura airport in Balangir will be upgraded to 2B category with an investment of ₹65 crore. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi laid the foundation for its upgradation in November 2023, and the obstacle limitation survey has already been completed. However, procedural hurdles, land acquisition, and aerodrome licensing have delayed project implementation, Jena noted.

Additionally, four more airports will be developed in Raisua and Barbil (Keonjhar district), Gudari (Kandhamal), and Amarda (Mayurbhanj district), enhancing connectivity across central, northern, and west-central Odisha.

In September 2023, then Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia confirmed an allocation of ₹45 crore for the development of the World War II-era airstrip at Amarda Road. The airstrip, owned by the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), has been unused for years, prompting local demands for its revival to improve connectivity in north Odisha.

Further expanding the state’s aviation infrastructure, the Odisha government has earmarked funds in its recent budget for a greenfield airport in Paradip, aimed at boosting industrial growth, exports, and connectivity to coastal economic hubs. Unlike brownfield airports, which utilize existing infrastructure, greenfield airports are built entirely from scratch.

ET