Greenfield Airport Planned at Paradip to Boost Aviation Connectivity.

The Odisha government has proposed the development of a greenfield airport at Paradip in the state budget presented recently, aiming to accelerate growth in industry, exports, and imports while expanding the aviation network across coastal industrial clusters. A greenfield airport, being built from the ground up, offers a unique opportunity to cater to the region's expanding economic activity, driven by major industries, ports, and cargo operations.

Paradip has recently been identified as a growing industrial hub under the Centre's ‘Mission Purvodaya,’ with projects such as port capacity expansion and new petrochemical initiatives contributing to its development. Aviation experts believe that a greenfield airport in Paradip could provide the necessary infrastructure to support this economic growth.

Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi, in his budget speech, outlined plans to strengthen Odisha’s position in aviation by launching the Building and Management of Aviation Assets and Network (B-MAAN) programme. The initiative will focus on modernizing and expanding airports across the state, including the establishment of the Paradip greenfield airport.

Majhi also noted that industries have shown interest in investing around Rs 2 lakh crore to develop Paradip into a major industrial hub, with a focus on port-based industries in Paradip, Dhamra, Astaranga, and Gopalpur.

As part of the B-MAAN initiative, the budget includes provisions for launching direct flight services to 10 new domestic destinations and 3 new international destinations, further enhancing the state’s connectivity. Currently, Odisha has international connectivity to Singapore, Bangkok, and Dubai, with 23 domestic destinations linked to Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar. To further boost domestic operations, BPIA will also see the development of a third terminal with a budget of Rs 100 crore. Additionally, improved flight connectivity from Veer Surendra Sai Airport in Jharsuguda is helping enhance access to western Odisha.

The proposed Paradip airport will offer significant time savings for business leaders by providing direct connectivity to major cities, eliminating the need to travel to Bhubaneswar and then drive to Paradip.

ET