Odisha Begins Land Acquisition Process For Proposed Puri Airport After OLS Survey

Bhubaneswar: The state government has submitted application for land to be acquired for the proposed Shree Jagannath International Airport at Puri has begun after a favourable obstacle limitation surfaces (OLS) survey.

The mega project would come up on 1,164 acre, including 68 acre of forest land and 221.48 acre private land in Sipasarubali and Sandhapur areas under Brahmagiri tehsil and is scheduled to be completed by 2025. It will be built at an estimated cost of Rs 5,631 crore.

In February, Union Minister of State for Civil Aviation Gen VK Singh told Parliament that development of a greenfield airport at Puri, which is being developed into a world-class heritage city, appeared to be technically feasible subject to OLS survey and removal of identified obstacles.

Besides feasibility study, Social Impact Assessment (SIA) for acquisition of private land – 153.37 acre in Sipasarubali and 68.11 acre in Sandhapur – has also been completed. No rehabilitation and resettlement would be required as these lands are free of human habitations, sources told TNIE.

Having completed the demarcation of forest land, the government would also begin the process for forest and environment clearances. Since the proposed airport is away from the high tide line, it would not require coastal regulation zone (CRZ) norms compliance, the sources added.

On January 1, 2021, Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik had requested Prime Minister Narendra Modi to establish an international airport at Puri to promote Jagannath culture across the world. He also proposed the name, Sri Jagannath International Airport.

The government is also planning a  six-lane high speed carriageway, connecting Bhubaneswar airport with the proposed airport at Puri. The Rs 3,600 crore road project will also pave way for the proposed metro rail plan, connecting Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Puri and Khurda which the CM announced on Utkal Diwas.