AAI picks three sites for second greenfield airport near Bhubaneswar

Sites are within 20-25 km radius of Odisha capital; airport to be set up on 2,000 acres

Jayajit Dash  |  Bhubaneswar 

Passenger, Traveler, Tourist, Airport
Airports Authority of India (AAI) has chosen three sites around the periphery of Bhubaneswar for the second greenfield international airport proposed in the state.

In its pre-feasibility study, the AAI has identified three sites within 20-25 km radius of Bhubaneswar. The airport is proposed to be developed on 2,000 acres of land.

“The need for a second international airport stems from the growing air traffic. As of now, its not decided whether AAI will develop the airport on its own or PPP (public private partnership) mode will be explored”, said an official source.

Due to certain limitations in the expansion of the Biju Patnaik International Airport in the city, building a new airport is significant to handle the potential surge in air traffic in the future.

The present airport has no scope for expanding the existing runway, stretching up to 2,742 meters. Wide-bodied planes are unable to land at the city airport. The new airport would be equipped to handle jumbo jets like Boeing 777 and Boeing 747.

AAI has not spelt out investment plans for the proposed airport. There is a possibility of developing it on the PPP mode. This would be the airport for the future, catering to the traffic requirement of the state for the next 15-20 years and beyond.

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To draw foreign fliers, the state government has already reduced Value Added Tax (VAT) on aviation turbine fuel (ATF) to zero for facilitating direct international flight operations. Despite this sop, the Biju Patnaik International Airport has failed to attract international operators other than AirAsia.

The Centre had accorded an international status to the Bhubaneswar airport in October 2013. The Biju Patnaik Airport that belongs to AAI is suitable for operation of Code 'D' aircraft of type B-767-400. The airport is also equipped with facilities for night operations, besides offering an apron area allowing the parking of six aircraft and navigational aids.
First Published: Thu, June 21 2018. 19:04 IST