Baripada: A Central team on Thursday visited Amarda air strip in Mayurbhanj to study the feasibility of starting the operation of an airport.
The 4-member team of Civil Aviation Ministry accompanied by Union Minister of State for Jal Shakti and Ministry of Tribal Affairs Bisheswar Tudu visited the air strip. They took stock of the condition of the strip that was built during the British rule and interacted with the officials concerned regarding its area and runway.
The team expressed their satisfaction about the the air strip and would submit the feasibility report to the Centre within 7 days.
It has been a long-standing demand of the people of the area for construction of an airport using the air strip that was constructed during World War II. It was the biggest air strip of the time in Asia.
Union Minister and Mayurbhanj MP Tudu had taken the initiative for construction of an airport at Amarda in Rasgovindpur. “I had met the Union Civil Aviation Minister after the Centre included Amarda air strip in the Udaan scheme and too up the airport issue. He had assured me of sending a team from the ministry to prepare a feasibility report,” Tudu said.
Former MLA and Mayurbhanj king Prabin Chandra Bhanjdeo said if the airport comes up at Amarda, it will be beneficial for air travellers of South Bengal and Mayurbhanj, Balasore and Keonjhar districts of Odisha. Besides, it will promote industries and tourism in the area, he added.
