Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: The state government Friday decided to develop four existing airstrips to make them operational by next year.
A decision to this effect was taken by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik at a high-level meeting at the secretariat here, in which he asked all concerned officials to take steps for runway expansion of airstrips at Baripada (Mayurbhanj dist), Rangeilunda (Ganjam dist), Padmapur (Bargarh dist) and Jeypore (Koraput dist).
If sources are to be believed, these airstrips are likely to be made operational by 2016-17-end.
The officials informed reporters the expansion of Rourkela, Jharsuguda, Lanjigarh and Angul airstrips are underway and will be completed within a couple of months. Runways at these airstrips will be expanded to 5000ft.
Of the 28 airstrips in the state, 12 are under the control of the state government.
Additional infrastructure required at these airstrips would be completed within a stipulated time, officials said.
The government has been contemplating to put up communication and surveillance apparatus, increase the length of runways and build boundary walls to keep stray animals at bay.
Along with 28 airstrips, the state has 16 helipads. The draft Orissa industrial policy of 2014 also envisages developing existing airstrips.
Sources said the government has conducted a feasibility study and is in consultation with aircraft operators to fly to these airstrips to ferry tourists and entrepreneurs.
Besides, the government has entered into an agreement with the Airports Authority of India (AAI) to develop the Jharsuguda airstrip in western Orissa into a full-fledged airport with an investment of Rs.210 crore.
According to sources, the state government also has a proposal to develop the Jeypore airstrip into a full-fledged airport spread over an area of over 310 acres.