Pradhan urges Prabhu for new airport in Bhubaneswar

Bhubaneswar: Union Petroleum Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Saturday urged Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu for establishing a new airport on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar, given the tremendous growth potential of the smart-city.

“The airport, which was started in 1962, is near saturation and faces severe space and runway related constraints. There is, thus, an urgent need to set up a new airport at Bhubaneswar given the tremendous growth potential of this Smart City,” said Pradhan in a letter to Prabhu.

He proposed for the creation of an airline industrial hub in Bhubaneswar by setting up ancillary industries like Maintenance, Repair and Overhaul (MRO) units, Airline Skilling Institutes, Flight Kitchens and Parking Bays in the vicinity of the proposed new airport in Bhubaneswar that will boost employment opportunities and development of the region.

Notably, the process of identifying a suitable piece of land near Khordha on the outskirts of Bhubaneswar is underway.

As the construction of development of the airport takes considerable time, this process needs to be hastened to avoid severe air traffic congestions and needless public inconvenience, he wrote.

Pradhan also requested Prabhu for commissioning of a new terminal (terminal number 3) and revamping of facilities at existing two terminals with international standards.