Jeypore: Passengers flight from Jeypore in Odisha’s Koraput district is round the corner as the airstrip on the outskirts of the town will be handed over to the Airport Authority of India (AAI) by April-end this year.
This was revealed during the visit of a two-member team comprising SK Banerjee, DGM, Kolkata Airstrip Traffic Control and Civil Engineer Sourav Subudhi to the town on Friday to oversee the ongoing work of the airstrip.
Official sources said that the Jeypore airstrip has been included in the third phase of the Pradhan Mantri Udan Yojana.
The AAI has acquired the land required for the airstrip the construction work of which is underway on a war-footing.
Sources in the AAI said considering the length and breadth of the airstrip which is 914 metre and 15-23 metre respectively, it can handle the flight of an 18-seater aircraft which can easily land and take-off. However, with subsequent expansion of the airstrip, the flight capacity would be increased to 60.
During inspection, the two-member team asked the concerned authorities to take necessary step in the installation of necessary equipment completion of other ancillary works.
As per the decision, the AAI would set up a 50-feet mobile air traffic control at the airstrip at the cost of Rs 7 crore.
Sources said a technical team of the AAI would soon visit the airstrip for inspection.
