JMM Activists Demand Operationalisation Of Amarda Airstrip

Baripada: Vehicular traffic on National Highway-18 in Baripada came to a grinding halt on Monday due to a road blockade by Jharkhand Mukti Morcha (JMM)’s Odisha unit, demanding operationalisation of the Amarda airstrip.

Thousands of vehicles were left stranded on both sides of the NH at Baripada, Talabani, Baisinga and Betonati due to the blockade.

Despite being the biggest airstrip in Asia, the state government has not taken any step for its renovation and operationalisation, the JMM activists alleged.

“We have been requesting the state government time and again to take necessary steps for the renovation and operationalisation of the Amarda airstrip. Though the state government had assured to take up the matter, nothing has been done till date,” JMM State unit president Mahesh Hembram told mediapersons here.

Built by the Royal Air Force (RAF) of the British government during World War II at a cost of Rs 3 crore on an area of 800 acres, the airstrip and its runway is lying unutilized since then.