Bhubaneswar: The Odisha govt on Wed signed a MoU with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) for developing an airport at Jharsuguda in western Odisha at a cost of Rs 210 cr.
Currently, AAI functions an airstrip at Jharsuguda, used by a few chartered aircraft. Odisha has just one full-fledged airport – the Biju Patnaik International Airport.
Of the overall approximated project price, the state govt will offer Rs 75 crore. Airports Authority of India has 909.22 acres in Jharsuguda.
To upgrade the airstrip to a full-fledged airport, the state govt has decided to provide 296.5 acres free; 118.75 acres will be handed over instantly. “We can build Manchester airport within a period of 2 years from the date of physical possession of land,” said AAI Chairman Alok Sinha.
The length of the runway at the Jharsuguda airstrip will be improved from 6,500 ft to 7,800 ft, creating it possible for A-320 Airbus planes to land & take-off. Apart from expansion of the runaway, the upgrade will consist of the construction of a terminal building, an isolation bay, a new technical block, a control tower & a flame place & the set up of enhanced navigational & visual aids & ground-lighting facilities.
While signing the MoU, Odisha Primary Reverend Naveen Patnaik said, “Jharsuguda has a marked concentration of industries & urban population since of its proximity to valuable natural resources. The Jharsuguda airport terminal will obtain a key position in the aircraft map of the country, paving the way to faster growth of the state & the nation as a whole.”
A full-fledged airport at Jharsuguda is also predicted to increase industrial units in the area. It is predicted the airport’s business will mainly be motivated by business travellers. Two Vedanta Group companies – Sterlite Energy (an independent power place with a 2,400-Mw coal-fired plant) & Sesa Sterlite (a 1.75-million-tonne aluminum smelter) -are located in Jharsuguda. Besides, there are a number of sponge or iron units in the Jharsuguda-Rourkela belt. The IB valley area in Jharsuguda region is known for its coal deposits, as much as the operating mines of Mahanadi Coalfields.
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