Bhubaneswar: The Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Odisha capital will be developed to a carbon-neutral airport of world standard.
Speaking to media persons in Bhubaneswar on Thursday, Director, BPIA, Prasanna Pradhan said he aimed at transforming BPIA into one of the best airports in the world having finest international practices. Pradhan took charge as director of the airport last month.
He said BPIA has been selected as the country’s first airport to have indigenous, cost-effective and environment-friendly air traffic management systems in compliance with the Centre’s Atmanirbhar Bharat and Make in India initiatives.
“We will make all efforts to modernise the airport in partnership with Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL). Our motto is a green airport with carbon-neutral growth. We have already achieved it and are among the best airports in the country including Varanasi, Trivandrum and Kolkata airports. We have managed to reduce carbon emission and increase the number of passengers,” he added.
On the steps taken towards the goal, Pradhan said the entire airport is now illuminated with LED lights. “We have energy efficient terminal building. We have already installed a 3.8-MW solar plant and applied to make it operational,” he added.
Since the power demand of the BPIA is 2 MW, the rest 1.8 MW can be sold to power grids, thus making the airport not only cost-effective but also environment-friendly, claimed Pradhan.
