Centre Seeks DPR From Odisha For Grant Of Approval For Puri International Airport

New Delhi/Bhubaneswar: The Centre has sought a detailed project report (DPR), including  development plan, project cost and funding, traffic projections, timelines for construction of the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport in Odisha’s Puri.

Replying to a question of BJD MP Dr Sasmit Patra in Rajya Sabha on delay in execution of the project, Civil Aviation Minister Kinjarapu Rammohan Naidu said that the state government has to submit an application along with DPR to the Ministry for grant of in-principle approval.

According to the Greenfield Airports (GFA) Policy, 2008, the responsibility of implementation of airport projects, including funding of the project, land acquisition, R&R etc, rests with the concerned airport developer, the state government in this case, Naidu pointed out.

The Centre had granted site clearance to Odisha for setting up of an international greenfield airport at Puri on September 22, 2023.

About 1500 acres of land alongside Puri-Brahmagiri road has been identified for the proposed airport.

In April, Fairfax, Adani Group and GMR had expressed interest to develop the Rs 2,203-crore greenfield airport near Sipasarubali in Puri. The tender for a public-private partnership (PPP) was floated by the Odisha Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (Idco) in February, this year, according to BusinessLine.

The airport is expected to be international in the first phase itself subject to regulatory approvals.

Details provided by Idco also revealed that the total land area of the airport will be around 1,184 acres with 100 acres earmarked for city side development. A 4-lane access road will be provided to the airport.

The airport will have a capacity of handling 4.6 million passengers per annum (MPPA) in phase 1. In phase 2, it is expected to be 10.18 MPPA and in phase 3, it will be an additional 16.69 MPPA, the report added.

The construction of Puri airport is likely to be completed within three years.

In 2021, former Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi proposing to set up an international airport at Puri in the name of Sri Jagannath International Airport. He had also assured all support required for establishing the airport in a record time.

With the BJP now at the helm in Odisha and having already announced to set up Rs 500 crore corpus fund for the temple, people expect the government to extend support for the proposed airport.