Wings of progress: Puri International Airport project takes significant strides forward

Bhubaneswar: The proposed Puri International Airport — a flagship infrastructure project of the Government of Odisha — has recorded major progress with a series of key clearances and regulatory milestones, reaffirming its trajectory toward realisation.

The project, aimed at transforming the coastal town of Puri into an international gateway, received a crucial boost when the Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA), Government of India, granted Site Clearance for the Greenfield airport on September 22, 2023. This was followed by in-principle approval from the Centre on May 6, 2025, marking a green light for further development.

Spanning a total area of 1,164 acres, the project involves minimal forest diversion, with only 68 acres classified as District Level Committee (DLC)/Revenue Forest land. The Commerce & Transport Department, Government of Odisha, has already submitted all required compliance documentation to the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEF&CC). The Regional Empowered Committee (REC) under IRO, MoEF&CC, Bhubaneswar has since recommended the project for Stage-I Forest Clearance.

The forest diversion proposal is now under active consideration by the Central Ministry. In its meeting held on June 24, 2025, the Advisory Committee of MoEF&CC sought additional inputs, including a Wildlife Conservation Plan and mitigation measures for ecologically sensitive species such as Olive Ridley turtles, dolphins, and migratory birds. The conservation plan is currently being prepared in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

Government officials clarified that such steps are part of the standard protocol for large-scale infrastructure projects. The Commerce & Transport Department has already begun preparing the required mitigation measures in line with the Advisory Committee’s recommendations and will submit the plan to secure Stage-I clearance.

In a major regulatory milestone, the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC) under MoEF&CC has already recommended Environmental Clearance for the project in its meeting held on June 26, 2025.

With these critical developments in place, the Government of Odisha is expected to finalise modalities for issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP), moving the project into its execution phase.

Once operational, the Puri International Airport will offer direct air connectivity to one of India’s most revered spiritual and cultural destinations, boosting tourism, employment, and regional economic development. The project also reflects Odisha’s commitment to sustainable infrastructure and responsible growth.