Odisha govt: Bhubaneswar, (Reporterspen), Feb 24: The Odisha government has announced plans to develop four new airstrips in western Odisha to strengthen the state’s aviation infrastructure. The new airstrips will be located at Jamadarpali (Sambalpur), Satibhata (Bargarh), Gotma (Nuapada), and Tusura (Balangir), increasing the total number of airports in the region to eight.
Transport Minister Bibhuti Bhusan Jena provided this information in the Odisha Assembly while responding to a query. Currently, four operational airports serve western Odisha, including Jeypore (Koraput), Veer Surendra Sai Airport (Jharsuguda), Rourkela (Sundargarh), and Utkela (Kalahandi), all of which have direct connectivity to Bhubaneswar.
The Minister also informed that Jeypore Airport will be upgraded from 2B to 3C category, with 229.4 acres of land being acquired for the project. A budget of ₹64.4 crore has been allocated for its development. Additionally, Tusura airstrip (Balangir) will be upgraded to 2B category, with ₹65 crore sanctioned for the purpose. Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi had laid the foundation for this upgradation in November 2024, and an obstacle limitation survey has already been completed.
The Minister cited land acquisition, aerodrome licensing, and procedural delays as reasons for project setbacks. Apart from these, the state plans to operationalize four more airports at Raisua and Barbil (Keonjhar), Gudari (Kandhamal), Dandabos, and Amarda (Mayurbhanj).
