Bhubaneswar, Nov 9: Dr. Guruprasad Mohapatra, Chairman, Airports Authority of India inaugurated the CISF Barrack at Biju Patnaik International Airport, Bhubaneswar on 08.11.2016, constructed at a cost of Rs. 299.86 lakhs for accommodating 80 CISFpersonnel in an impressive ceremony, attended by Shri SanjayJain, Regional Executive Director (Eastern Region), Shri R. Mahalingam, Airport Director, Bhubaneshwar Airport, Shri. H K Brahma, Deputy Commandant, CISFand other senior officials. Dr. Mohapatra, also inspected various installations and has reviewed the developmental activities of projects.
These include constructions of New Control Tower, New Fire Station and Hangar/Taxiway. He also deliberated on issues likely to be taken up in near future like construction of Parallel Taxiway and Extension of Apron.
Airports Authority of India is taking all efforts to add infrastructure matching the rapid growth of traffic at Biju Patnaik International Airport which has been declared as major airport by Airports Economic Regulatory Authority of India (AERA). The airport has handled 1.9 million passengers during the last year and has been declared 24Hours operations from 1s.tSeptember, 2016 and Indigo Airlinehas started base flight operation for two Aircraft, providing much needed early morning and late night connectivity from 1stOctober 2016. Other airlines have also planned for more schedules. The airport also has cargo handling facility since June, 2016.
Airports Authority of India has identified approx. 60 acres of land for the proposed land-side development to facilitate the passengers and aviation related activities such as Hospitality and Convention, Airport Business District (Retail &Commercial) and Logistics and Warehousing to cater the growing dynamics of Bhubaneswar Airport wherein an investment of Rs. 2500 Crore has been anticipated with direct and indirect employment generation of 35,000 and 50,000 respectively.
The proposed development shall be taken up on PPP model for a concession lease period of 30 years. The EOI for the development plan had already been published and more than 9 potential developers have envisaged interest in the project. In addition, Airports Authority of India has also taken up development of Jharsuguda Airport at a total project cost of Rs. 200.00 crores for improving regional connectivity within Odisha as part of the Regional Connectivity Scheme of the revised National Civil Aviation Policy 2016 of Govt. of India.
Under this project, a new modular design Passenger Terminal with handling capacity of 300 Pax, (150 Arrival and 150 Departure) is under construction. The strengthening of Runway, Taxiway, New Technical Block, Control Tower, Fire Station, Staff quarters and all CNS installations are also taken up. The runway will be capable to handle aircraft upto Air Bus- A320. Government of Odisha has extended financial support of Rs. 75.00 crores and land is being provided. The expected date of completion for the project is April 2018.
Source-PIB
