Odisha Chief Minister reiterates his demand for new airports in the State at Gopalpur, Jeypore and Jharsuguda

Odisha Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik raised the issue of development of new airports in the State at Gopalpur, Jharsuguda and Jeypore during his meeting with the Union Civil Aviation Secretary K N Srivastava on Wednesday. Srivastava during his meeting with the Chief Minister informed about the impending up-gradation of the Biju Patnaik Airport at Bhubaneswar to international standard. rivastava said the work for new terminal of the airport will be completed by December second week. The new terminal will become operational by January, 2013, he said. Srivastava said the proposal to accord international status to Biju Patnaik Airport here will be brought before the Union Cabinet in April next year after completion of all necessary work.

Naveen, who had met Civil Aviation Minister Ajit Singh in New Delhi in September, had raised the issue of infrastructure inadequacy in the aviation sector for air connectivity within the State. Singh had suggested during discussions that Odisha should explore the possibility of developing Jharsuguda airport in public private partnership (PPP) mode. On development of airports at Gopalpur and Jeypore, the Airports Authority of India (AAI) is expected to take up feasibility studies.