Bhubaneswar: Amid reports of moves to lease out the Biju Patnaik International Airport (BPIA) in Bhubaneswar, the Odisha government and opposition Biju Janata Dal (BJD) came out with diverse views on the issue on Monday.
While senior BJD leader and former minister Dibya Shankar Mishra lashed out at the BJP government accusing it of trying to privatise the Bhubaneswar airport by leasing it out to a private entity, Odisha Transport Minister Bibhuti Jena clarified that the state has not yet received any formal proposal regarding this.
Stressing that the Centre has plans for the development and management of airports, he said no proposal specifically related to leasing out Bhubaneswar airport has reached the state government so far.
While the centre is focusing on the overall development and management of airports across the country, the Odisha government is yet to receive any formal communication regarding plan to lease out the Bhubaneswar airport.
Emphasising that Bhubaneswar airport is performing well, the Minister made it clear that any decision about the airport’s future would be taken only after carefully considering Odisha’s interests. If any formal proposal is received in the future, the interests of Odisha will remain the priority in any decision concerning the airport’s future, development or management, he said.
On the other hand, BJD leader Dibya Shankar Mishra alleged that the Central government has approved the leasing of Biju Patnaik International Airport to a private entity. The BJP government has approved a proposal to club Biju Patnaik International Airport with Hubballi Airport in Karnataka and hand them over to a private entity under the PPP mode, he claimed.
“It is highly condemnable that this important airport of Odisha, named after legendary leader Biju Patnaik, is being handed over to a private entity,” the BJD leader said.
Normally, government institutions that are not generating profits are considered for leasing to private entities. However, Bhubaneswar is one of the profitable airports in India, Mishra said, adding that BPIA is estimated to be worth between Rs 5,000 crore and Rs 7,000 crore.
Stating that around 50 lakh people travel through this airport every year, he said the Central government earned a profit of Rs. 238 crore from this airport in 2022-23. Going forward, it is expected to generate profits of more than Rs. 500 crore. The people of Odisha will not accept the decision to hand over the airport to a private entity on a 50-year lease, the former minister said.
There is a need to take steps for the further development of the airport and construct additional terminals. If the Central Government invests funds in the development of the airport, it will generate even greater profits, he said.
If the Centre fails to immediately withdraw this order, BJD will launch a strong agitation in the interest of the people of Odisha, said Mishra.