Post News Network
Jeypore, Dec 16: If official sources are to be believed, passenger airline service between Jeypore and the state capital would soon become a reality. Not only Jeypore, even Jharsuguda and Sambalpur towns would also be connected with Bhubaneswar, sources said.
The state government has asked the district administration to provide all assistance for the proposed air service. The Centre for Modernizing Government Initiative (CMGI), which comes under the GA department recently sent a letter to Koraput collector in this regard and sought to know the status of the local airport.
According to the letter, nine-seater aircraft of Air Orissa Aviation Private Limited, a private service provider, would fly between these cities very soon. The district administration has been asked to provide necessary facilities including ambulance and police before 30 minutes of taking off of the flights. CMGI also sought to know about the quality of infrastructure of restsheds. The administration has been especially asked to develop sitting arrangements for passengers and put in place boarding pass and security check-up facilities. Based on the letter, the collector asked R&B executive engineer Rashmiranjan Mishra December 10 to inform the current status as the airport comes under the department. He would respond to the letter very soon, Mishra said.
Meanwhile, it was learnt the state government plans to start flying of aircraft with a capacity of 50 to 70 passengers from Jeypore. R&B authorities have been asked to submit a detailed project report (DPR) on the expansion of the airport. While the length of the runway is 914 meters at present, it needs to be extended up to 1,500 meters to accommodate 70-seater airplanes, officials said, adding, plans are in place to expand the airport towards Sauraguda village.
Official sources said at least 28 acres of land would be needed for extension of the runway while the department possesses about 15 acres of them. The balance land would be acquired from private parties. They have prepared an outlay of Rs 30 crore for the expansion work, according to department sources.
Earlier, the state government had prepared a DPR in conformity with the Airport Authority of India norms to use the airport for commercial purpose. Rs180 crore would be spent for expansion of the airport spreading over 445 acres of land, the DPR said. It was submitted to the Centre and the Chief Minister sent several letters to the ministry requesting it to develop the infrastructure. However, the Centre didn’t respond to them, sources said.
