Airport at Jharsuguda

Jharsuguda Airport upcoming 18/10/2011

ORISSA NEWS : -The Airports Authority of India (AAI) under the Union ministry of civil aviation will sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Orissa government very soon for the development of a second airport in the state at Jharsuguda.

The Government of India has decided to renovate the existing upcoming Jharsuguda airport, 50 km from Sambalpur. Jharsuguda has an airport demands because most of corporate offices cropping in leaps and bounds. And going a step ahead, the State Government has decided for public-private-partner for speedy activation of the work.

The Orissa government has urged the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to scale down its requirement of land for development of a new airport at Jharsuguda, an upcoming industrial hub in the state. Important sources said, a maximum 734 acres of land is available near the location which includes 418 acres of private land.

News got from sources that SREI, a Kolkota based finance company has expressed interest for the work and negotiating with the Government, sources said. "However, no final decision is taken in this regard. A confirmation is sought from the Airport Authority of India (AAI) whose decision will be final," informed the Works secretary of State SK Ray.

Presently, there is only one airport in the state- the Biju Patanaik Airport in Bhubaneswar. In addition to this, there are 16 airstrips and 12 helipads for landing of aircrafts and helicopters. When fully operational, Jharsuguda will be the second full fledged airport in the state after Bhubaneswar.

Sources said, the Jharsuguda airstrip will first be renovated to make it fit for landing of small 15-30 seater ATR aircrafts. In the second phase, it will be upgraded to the status of a full fledged airport.

Similarly, the state government is considering the proposal of AAI for providing additional 23 acres land for construction of parallel taxi track and development of 300 metres basic strip at the Biju Patnaik airport in Bhubaneswar, Patnaik said.

Correspondent – Sangram Kesari Panda,
Sambalpur.
Through , Beareu Chief,
SIDDHARTHA SHANKAR MISHRA,
TASVER E HIND, THESE DAYS,
ORISSA,SAMBALPUR